The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-15
GAUNT AND CHASTITY FAMINE.
"A Vivid Picture Of Irish Distress in
l847, by s. 8. Prentiss.

During the years 1861 a great famine fell
upon Ireland. aud thousands perishsd OF hun
ger. The British Parliament made successive
grants In aid. amounting In the aggregate to
about fifty million dollars. Large sums were
subscribed abroad. and among other donations
a cargo Of food WAS sent from the United
States. Then. as now tho people of New Or
leans and OF Louisiana were found ready to re-
spond to the appeals OF the stricken people OF
the Emerald Isle. concerning which the Illus
trious 8. 3. Prentiss uttered the following elo-
ouent words before q vast assemblage In this
city:
We havs met. not to prepare ourselves for
ments Of those gallant msn who have planted
our victorious standards In the heart Of an
enemys country. We have assembled. not to
bu y 70 snons q ths esy IS vans
and suffering witch Mar'd eamss from the the
plicates the Young and vigorous child Tor bread.
There lies upon the other side OF the wide At;
!antie besutiim island famous i9 story and md
Site 1 Of LoIisiana, while its population is
almost half that Of the Union. II has Rtven to
greatness. 1t has been prolific 10 statesmen.
warriors and poets. Its brave and generous
cons have fought successfully all battles but
while its harp. like It's history. moves to tears
BY It's sweet but melancholy pathos. Into this
| fair region God has seen fit to send the most
his lnscrutable DEGREES; The earth has failed
to give her increase: the common mother has
nss Sem
has seized a nation With It's, stranglIng
Woes Of the present. ioreets for moment the
gloomy history OF the pact We have assem-
bled to express our sincere sym pathy for the
| N.r{n rH hrn%h md fn n n
efforts for their aIlevation. This is one Of
those cases in which We may: without impiety
as It WerI the iuntSn M lon Of
this great calamity is to test the beneyolence
and worthiness Of US upon whom unlimited
then. oi common humanity. I Invoke your aid
Ia behalf of starving Ireland; Oil It - terri;
Bile, that In this beautiful world, which the GOOD
Tor us all. that men should die OF starvation In
these days. when improvements In aRricul' ure
and the mechanics! arts have duadrupled tue
more than sufficient to e,othe and feed
al her and thai 5 word sarva
ton has not long since become obsolete. or
only retained to explain the dim legends Of
yond the precincts Of our own favored country
you more especially. who have nlWays lived In
this great valley OF the Missfrsippt-the cornu,,
cnpia OF the Worldwide see each day poured
into the lap of your ciy food sufficient, te
nssuaRe the hunger Of nation eau form bu
an imperfect idea OF the horrors OF famine; oil
the terror which strikes nous souls when they
cry Ia vain for bread. When man dies d
disease. he alone endures the pain. Around
his pillow are gathered sympatbiztng friends
seDger. ever his face and conceal the horrors
OF his visa9e as he delivers his stern mandate
In battle. in the fullne.s OF his pride Rnt
strength. little recks the soldier whether the
Kissing bullet sings his sudden requiem. or the
cords of life are severed by the sharp steel
But he who dies OF hunger, wrestles alone. dal
after day. with hts grim and unrelenting enc
terrible conflict: for II he had friends hOv
could he die OF hunger? He has not the no
blood OF the soldier to maintain him: for hi
foe vampire-ltke has exhausted his veins
Famine comes not u D like a bt ave enemy. storm
ing, by sudden ons.t. the fortress that resists
Famine be.ieg.s 81. draws his lines aroun,
the doomed garrison; he cuts oil all supplies
no quarter Alas for po2r human .ture. 40,
. the blood. recedes. the flesh deserts. tn
: muscles relax. and the sinews grow powerless
At last the mind. which at first had bravel
: nerved itself for the contest. gives way unde
4 the mysterious Influences which govern II
union with the body. Then he begins to dout
the exis ence OF an Overrullng Providence; q
hates his fellow.men. and elares upon thel
dles bias phemine! Who will hesitate to give ri
mite to avert such awful results surely &c
the citizens OF New Orleans. ever famed 10
deeds OF b-nevolenca aud charity. Freely nav
your hearts and purses opened heretoiore
the call OF suffering humanity. Noo,y olo 70
. respond to oppressed Greece ana 9lruR91n
Poland. Within EEin's borders is an enem