Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-25
Vur IRISH FAMI>E E.

that which originates in the melan-
choly European flood, The failure OF
the food supply means a famine in the
western part of Ireland. This startling
fact has not yet seemed to make an ad-
equate impression upon the public mind
in the United States. Why this Is so
can be accounted fer only on the ground
that the reality aud gravity of the dis
tress are not fully appreciated by our
people. But in the light of recent re-
liable testimony in regard to the suffer-
ing that prevails already, and which Will
become extreme unless means are taken
to anticipate the wants Of the peasantry
of Western Ireland, it is not consistent
with humanity, such as the people OF
the United States have always exhlb-
tied, to postpone any longer a prompt
and substantial demonstration OF sym
pathy for the famine-stricken population.
Nothing but speedy and liberal succor
can avert the death by starvation OF
thousands of human beings connected by
ties of language, kindred and affection
with ourselves. The imminence OF the
peril and the narrowing nature OF the
sufferings already experienced are rec
ognized by every humane person who
has visited the afflicted districts during
the last few months. On Thursday OF
last week a deputation of Catholic
priests pointed out TO Earl Spencer, the
Lord Lieutenant, the extreme prlVatlons
to which the people of the western coun-
ties are at present subjected, and the lar
severer distress which is impending,
Their apprehensions are fully shared by
the Poor Law Guardians in the same
parts of Ireland, who find the resources
at their command altogether inadequate
to the succor OF the prevailing destitu-
ton, even at the stage it has now reached.
Conclusive proof OF the desperate
straits to which a large part of the popu-
lation in the western counties Of Ireland
has been reduced during the current
Winter is furnished by official statistics
Just published by the British Govern
ment. That last years harvest was a
poor one we knew, but We now learn for
the first time how signal and deplorable
was the falling off in the production of
food staples as compared with the yield
of former years. \ Parliamentary re-
turn shows that the aggregate value of
the Irish crops was less in 1852 by more
than twenty-five and a half million dol
lars than it was in the preceding twelve
month, and less by nearly thirteen
million dollars than the average annual
value OF crops during the ten years pre-
ceding. In the potato crop alone there
was in 1882 a loss Of twenty-one and a
half million dollars as compared with
1881, and of more than eleven millions
as compared with the average yearly
yield in the previous decade. To COM
prehend the sinister meaning Of these
huge figures We must bear in mind that
the deficiency in last years harvest was
not evenly distributed over the whole
country, but was most notable and
grieyous in the wet and poor soil Of the
west-in the very districts, that is to
say, where the potato crop is the main
source OF n%ourishment, and where, even
in an exceptionally good year, like 1881,
the poorer tenants and laborers find it a
hard struggle to obtain the rudess neces-
saries Of life.
Now, says the New York Sun, from
which paper we oollate the facts Of the
impending calamity in the west Of Ire
land, it will not do for the Irish-Ameri-
can and their innumerable friends in this
community to stand aloof and let these
people die, on the ground that it is the
business of the British Government to
take care of them. We did not make
the remissness OF others an excuse for
disobeying the promptings OF humanity
in 1917 nor should we make it a pre-
text for Withholding assistance now. That
is the attitude taken by the Irish land
lords and those who sympathize with
them-by Lady Florence Dixie, for ex.
ample, who, having disbursed a sum Of
S25, 900 in helping the small farmers and
cotters in the western counties, declines
to do any more, for the reason, as she
AYERS, that it is the duty Of the govern
ment and the Land League to assist the
starving population. Unquesti onahly,
the Gladstone Ministry made an unpar-
donable mistake in refusing during the
last session of Parliament to permit the
Irish Board Of Works to make advances
and furnish employment to the most des-
titute part OF the population. The culpa-
BILE want Of foresight exhibited by the
government may fairly be held charge.
able with the lamentable ~inadequacy Of
the means at hand for coping with a ter
rible calamity. But whatever may be
said on this point, the fact remains that
a disastrous failure Of the crops has oc-
Cured, and that the soourge Of famine
must be sverted in some way or other. If
We stretch forth our hands to-day to re-
lieve the famished ones in Ireland, it win
be the first time that American phil.
anthropy has not paused to ask whether
its b~enignant work should not have been
performed by English equity and justice.
DISRAELI'S HESTTANCY.
Mr.. Disraeli hesitated much, says the
London Truth, like Sergeant Ballantine.