Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-09
IRELAND'S WANTS.
Conflicting Statements as TO the Real
Condition OF Affairs Existing in
That Country.
Reports Of United States CoBsnIs-The
Starving Point Not Yet Reached
Pauper EmigraHts.

WASHINGTON, May 8.-As result of the
| inquiries made at the State Department to-
day II has been learned that the subj .ci of
Gov. Buffers recent letter TO Secretary Folger.
namely, pauper immigration from Ireland,
has for some months he n under considera-
ton In that department. A number of re-
ports relating thereto have been received,
and among the most interesting is one from
Consul-General Merritt, of London, giving
the results OF the invesiigat on made at his
request in March last By United States con-
suls in Ireland. The consuls generally agree
that the distress prevailing al present is not
exceptional in its character, and th at the pub
llshed accounts 10 the contrary are exagger-
ated. In the poorer agricultural districts the
situation OF the peasantry ia miserable, and
abject poverty is the rule; but SID as il l., it
has been the same for years, aud has become
the normal condition of life. II rsy be
safely assured that The much talked of
starvation point" has not been reached,
however bad the situation may be, aud that
the local and government authorities have
abundant mesns at hand to relieve the act
uai necessity. The prospects Of the amelior-
alton of the present condition in the imme
diale future are most discoursging. Il is
altogether unlikely ihat the government will
shortly commence public works in order TO
give employment 10 the people, as the policy
settled up-n is relief either by the work.
house or by emigration. With great unan-
unity, the consuls agree that the present con-
ditIon must act as powerful stimulus 20
emigration, and many interesting facts are
given in their reports to illustrate this
branch OF the investigation. AZ to the question
whether the government, the guardians OF
the poor or the associations are engaged in
q geudfnD ma IN tho TTnifaI
diversity of opinion exists, which may be
accounted for by the difference of localities
from which The consuls write.
Consul Barrows, OF Dublin, says no such
practice is in operation in his district
Consul Wood, OF Belfast, writes: "I know
OF no organized effort fJr any large deporta-
tion of sufferers or paupers 10 the United
States. No -;oubt many will fad their way
there by the aid of friends, and often in
measure by chsTitsble funds. Il is to be
feared that most Of such emigrsnts are
without means, and, what is worse, without
skill 10 trades or other occupations, and with
go little money as TO sfford no promise OF any
respectable support on their arrival in
America"
Consul Livermore, OF Londonderry, under
stands that government ageDts, with no
great success, however, endeavor 10 induce
the poor and ley 70 emigrate. Ia some
localities guardians OF the poor are desirous
to emigrate those who are likely to be in a
state Of chronic poverty at home, and save
rates from their possible support.
Gen. Merritt refers TO the subiec OF Ameri.
can aid to Ireland as folloSs: "As TO reliey-
ing Irish distress by contributions Of money
from the United States, which have always
been so liberal, the charges have been SO
frequent in the past that much OF the money
has been used for other purposes that / sug-
gest that in the future the almost ca he
taken in choosing channels through which
Charity is to be administered"
Upon the question of tue reported dis
tress in western and southern Ireland
John J. Plat, United States consul at
Cork, writes as follows: Il met several
days ago prominent gentleman of this
place, avery Intelligent as we'll Al genial and
kind-hearted man, whose opportunities of
knowing western and southern Ireland for
some years past should have been best, and
in the course Of brief conversation l hsz
arded the remark that there was great deal
OF distress in the coast region OF Ireland.
Not bit of it; don't you believeGit,' was
bis quiet, emphatic answer, AMI then he told
me Of his experience in attending the dstri-
button Of certsin supplies to the dis
treased 10 1880. At points where
want was reported to be the greatest,
the officers could not, unless at
extravagant prices, he said, employ help,
even TO unload cargoes Of supplies, and in
come cases, therefore, naval crews had to
perform the work themselves. The officers
would meet, he told me, with expressious of
contempt at the idea Of sending people such
stuff asi Indian cornmesl, which / have
learned is considered food fit only for pigs.
Again has it even bsen told that the mission
o! the Constellation 20 these shores three years
ago was an enterprise of doubtful success ss
a charity, that the American potatoes went
begging, 80 to speak, for somebody TO eat
them, were net thought so good ss Irish po-
tatoes (nothing American, l am afrald, is
thought so good here ss that which ia Irish,
and that sonie of them were returned TO
Queenstown and exported to the United
s ates. Such has been the story current here
aud reported 10 me by high authorities
Just quoted. The visit OF the Constellation
was, however, boon in some respects. If il
did not relieve The poor, starving Irish
there were costly dinners and balls
up and down the country. The gentleman
quoted above seemed 10 think the people OF
the Usited States, in view of the terrible
Oaio Valley floods, should not be called
upon 10 minister to fictitious distress in Ire
land. / have written the foregoing para.
graph to suggest doubt of the picture oi
Irish disir; ss being as bad as il is painted il
several quarter, bat feel confident there is
enough dire poverty and need in the west
ern and southern coast region to excite the
sympathies and insure helping hand from
those charitably disposed everywhere"