Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-13
ALErrER FROM REV. JOHN BROWN

What He IL Doing for Tho Drought Sufferers
OF Tsxas.
PHILADELPHIA, PA NOV, I, 1885.
To the Editor OF the Gazette:
Having gone as far south as Washing.
ton, my face ia W turned towards Texas
and hope to reach there before Thanks.
giving day. | arrived here yesterday, be-
llevlng that could speak In some OF the
churches To-day, and present the claims
OF the destitute farmers who are appeal
ing to me for aid through their county
judges and relief committees, but ana dis
appointed. This Is foreign missionary
day In Philadelphia, and all the churches
are pleading for money TO send TO the
heather. Hundreds Of thousands OF dol
lars will 90 from this great and rich city
TO heather lands as the result Of to-day's
preaching. THIS Ia all well enough, but |
cannot help feeling that II is a
shame 10 send 50 much money
abroad TO 6uy shoes aud stock
iDgs, and beads and testAments, etc.
for the savnges OF Africa, and India, and
China, while 10 many In our own land,
and especially in Texas, are to-day half
fed and hsli-clad, | do not care TO listen
10 the claims Of the heather, therefore
stay at home aud pen you these lines.
In Washington city, cordial welcome
was given ms 10 speak Ia behalf Of the
druuth stricken farmers VI North Texas Ia
all the churches. / addressed four large
congregations there last Sunday. aud four
more during the week, No collections
were taken, az an absolute rule against IL
In almost all the churches throughout the
great cities, prevents this Therefore,
select some one, well known 10
the community, TO receive donations
and forward TO our committee at Albany.
The president was present ut one Of the
congregations which addressed. aud
promptly ana generously sent nus letter,
written IN his own hand, iDc'osing a
check for S2b, When | left upward Of
$500 had already been handed H., and
perhaps more than twice that amount will
yet be given, In Washington 1 had the
pleasure Of meeting well-known Texans
Some OF them had recently been In the
Northwest and could verify every word
saidi others, who merely read the Texas
papers, thought there was no need OF go
lug outside the state for aid, When,
however, | showed them the many letters
sent me by county judges, relief commit
tees, and especially thGso Of Senator
Fleming, llAlrIsasf- OF the committee
: Nefff1ch sent me north, they believed all L
said was true. suggested to them that
Texas relief committee be formed at
once for the purpose Of distributing grain,
food and clothing this winter. The idea
was well received and steps will soon be
taken TO organize committee, that win
command the respect and confidence at
once ot'the charitable at the capital. |
also called at the agricultural department
and was promised garden seed for the
farmers who are needy. was requested
to forward without delay list
OF those who shall receive for
distribution the seeds forwarded
from Washington. Five varieties, such
as the farmers OF the Northwest usually
SOW, shall DO given. OF course this win
not be great deal to one person, sat 1t
WILL amount TO great deal In all.
would suggest that the county Judges or
chairmen OF tue several relief committees
send at once to the Hon. j. II. Fleming,
Albany, Tex, u list OF names who need
and VIII receive garden seeds for next
springs planting, These wiz then be
forwarded TO Washington together, and
me seeds will be forwarded without
charge 10 the several counties direct. In
Washington had also the pleasure OF
making the acquaintance Of n lady who Is
distinguished for her noble char.
acter and generous relief 20 the
wounded on the battle fields here
and IN Europe. Clara Barton, president
OF the Red Cross society, ia a lady whose
name might well be- placed on the sacred
pages OF the Bible, did she live In olden
times. She lives not only TO relieve the
horrors OF the battlefield, but also 10 re.
lieve the miseries caused by the war OF
the elements. wherever there is nre,
sword, famine, earthquake, nood or cy.
clone, she Ia there like an angel OF mercy.
helping the distressed and the afflicted
She had Just returned from Charleston
when / called, and, though pressed with the
cares and sorrows OF msny commnnitlea
she eagerly listened 10 what had to say
in regard 10 the restitution IN North.
western Texas. AS l read the letters
which have received from Texas, plead
Ing for help, she was visably Affected, and
assured mo that our cause would receive
her immediate attention. II this noble
society should undertake 90 help us, more
could DO done In week than ali our com.
mittees of relief can do In a monh. [
am glad that IN response to my appeals
mere thousands Of bushels OF seed wheat
nave already gone TO the drought suffer.
ers, ana have every reason 10 believe
that sufficient Interest Is being awakened
In our condition 20 cause much more vet
10 30 done, II l have been hindered
by the miserable opposition Of spllsh
land speculat0rs, so that have not been
able 20 accomplish As much a. | other.
wise would, let tho farmers do their
best 10 prepare their ground for spring