New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-29
LATEST yEWS From IRELAND.

LATEST NEWS From IRELAND.
The news from Ireland continues to be all
most "a perplexing as ever. The appeal of
the Lord Mayor of Dublin to the English peo-
ple states that unless prompt assistance Is
oiven tens of thousands of the Irish must
"d,e of starvation The Mansion House
Fnnd has already received over 100000, but
This he declares is "mere drop IN the
"bucket." On the other hand the phlegmatic
calm with which the English hear these pa
thetic appeals remains almost unbroken. Inc
Mayor directly accuses them of having given
hundreds of thousands of pounds to the IA
mine stricken Indians, yet of sending less 10
Ireland than had come from either sydney OF
Melbourne. We can judge from the reports OF
our home exchanges how large the public
contributions from this country already are
Almost every town of note has raised OF Is now
collecting its - Irish fund.-" as i'll 1o47. Very
little of this money has found its way to
MIR. Parnel, prudent Americans not wishing
to soil their hands in the muddy water
of Irish politics. and the IRISH, as rule, send
ing their contributions to their starving coun-
trymen through the Roman Catholic clergy
In addition to these sums, which are publicly
noticed are to be estimated the enormous
aggregate OF small amounts sent by private
mrans from emIgrants to their friends SUD
scriptious, as we learn, are also going over
from Canada. In this city and Philadelphia
preparations, too, are on foot to send pr0Vl-
siOns. clothing, etc.
The Irish Times and Pail Mall Gazette state
positively that the English Government have
definitely offered to lend $1,2J0,0OO from
the Irish Church Surplus Fund. to sanitary
and other local boards, or to landlords with
two years grace before payment OF m
tercst begins the interest being the
lowest and the time Of repayment the
longest (thirty-fye years. legally allowable.
This is 10 furnish immediate employment
and wages in the distressed districts. I'm case
the loans are not applied for. special sessions
are to he called and steps taken to cxpend this
money Why do we hear nothing OF the ap-
plication of this fund 7 This is the only prac-
teal and definite scheme of relief, much more
efficient than the blind alms-gvinG. going on
at present. 1t would be well for the Mansion
House Committee, instead of vague and i'm
FASHIONED appeals to Englishmen and Ameri-
cans, to send out matter-of-fact report stat
ing plainly and IN detail First-in what dis
trIcts tho people are in need this is neces-
sary. rs the famine is not general, but is
confined TO certain counties only. Secondly
Whether the famine in each place is one OF
food or fuel, or both. Ihirdly-How many
persons are supposed to need relief and,
Fourthly-What has already been done to give
it TO them.
The means of relief now inaugurated ought
to he sufficient to accomplish thoroughly
its object. if properly managed. We have
10 intention to chill the generous ar
dor that now prompts Americans to give
of their means to their hungry kinsmen; but
it is just as well that they should send their
money intelligcntly, and should be assured
that it reaches those to whom it is sent. 1t Is
well known that ship loads of cornmeal
sent gratuit0usly from our ports rotted in
Irish warehouses in 1S47, instead of being
distributed, and that moro was sold-at low
cost it is true, but still sOld-by the Local
Guardians. These were not Fenian canards,
but facts mistakes which grew out of char
acteristlc national recklessncss and mlsman-
agement and the confusion of the crisis The
TRIBUNE suggests that it would be well for
our funds to be placed in the hands of re-
sponsible agents who will use them for reliey-
ing actual Distress or, still better for assisting
willing men and women to emigrate to this
country. This Is, after all, the only sure and
permanent means Of relief which we can give.
Our foreign files just received show tho
anxiety with which Mr. Parners progress
through tho United States is watched in both
England and Ireland: by the English to I'M
derstand the temper of this country to them
selves by the Irish, to know whether their
political struggle can depend on us in future
for substantial and. Whatever reports may 90
back of enthusiastic receptions and " mass
meetings." our friends across the water in
both islands may rest assured that al the en-
thusiasm and all the money raised by Mr..
Parnell for political purposes Were of Irish
origin. As far az Americans are concerned,
his visit has been q most flat and Improbable
failure, productive of no result except that Of
dullng the sympathy which would otherwise
have been moro freely given to his needy
countrymen.