The morning call., 1891-01-05
AN APPEAL FOR AID.
Impoverished Condition Of Residents Of The
Western Part Of Ireland.

DUBLIN, Jan. 4.--The Earl of Zetland,
Viceroy of Ireland, and Chief Secretary
Balfour sign declaration which has been
issued on the condition of the poor in the
western part of Ireland. The declaration
says:
Poverty is chronic in some districts, and
1t will, if the people are not aided, reach a
stage of acute distress during the winter
and spring There is neither a resident
party nor a substantial middle class TO give
employment nor are there charitable organ
izations to aid those who are unable to aid
themselves. Outdoor relief, except in cases
OF emergency, cannot legally be admins
tered, except to persons holding over a
quarter of an acre of land. Although no
one acquainted with the history of the
Irish Poor Law would regard the relaxing
of this clause as other than a public calam-
ity, Its maintenance undoubtedly limits the
power of dealing with periods OF exceptional
distress. The position thus created leaves a
part of The social organism sick at all times,
stricken with disease from which, without
eXtianeOus help, it has no power to rally.
The question IS not whether money ought
10 be given, but how it ought to be given !;
to what class and for what special purpose
Charity ill-administered Injuries the recip-
tents everywhere, but it is especially In
furious in those parts with which we are
concerned. Elsewhere the injury may be
confined to class relatively small. but In
the worst portions of the congesled districts
the whole community may be affected. All
are poor, all can piauSlDly appeal Tor ald,
and help Tecklessly given in response may
infect whole townships with vices and
weaknesses and professional menuicancy.
We have spoken of this matter to many
priests and others acquainted with the con-
dltiOn OF the people. There was not one OF
tbpn hoWaVpr kannlU bau q felt
the sutferings OF those among whom they
lived, who did not admit that permanent
lll-tffects followed from much charitable
expenditure within their experience. Re
garding appeals for help, it is needful TO
say that the tales Of distress need not be
taken as authentic because they are couched
In strong language anu seem to come from
well-lnformed quarters.
THE POTATO FAILURE.
'In regard to the failure of the potato crop,
the small occupiers in the west seem, at first
sight, all to live much in the same way.
They are lodged in small cabins, cultivate
the same kind of soil holdings aud are
clothed with the same kind OF dress. II
would be natural to conclude that in all
places where there is a failure OF the crop
III: distress is the same. but such is not the
case. In no district does the bulk of the
community live wholly upon the potato.
Every district has means of livelihood
Independent of the cultivation OF the potato
The degree OF the failure of the potato crop
Is therefore by Itself miserable guide to
the degree OF distress existing among the
people. The other elements in finding the
condition oil the people are the amount
OF their savings ami their debt and
credit with their local tradesmen.
Furthermore, in the organization Of any
plan OF gratuitouS assistance, caution Is
necessary i'll order that it shall not inter
ferc With the system of railway relief works.
Several thousands of pounds weekly have
already been distributed in the form Of
wages In the districts most in need. The
conclusions we have come to- are that chari-
table aid ought TO be confined first to the
families which are in serious want and
which, having no able-bodied person among
them, cannot derive benefit from public re-
lief works; second, to the providing OF meats
In schools for children attending them; and
third, to the supplying of clothing for chill
dren unable to procure 1t elsewhere.
OFFER OF SERVICES.
The declaration concludes: To those
who think that we, who can obtain the
services of the Poor Law inspectors, school
Inspectors, relieving officers, resident magis-
trate, police and other residents in the To-
calities affected, and who are already
officially responsible for relief works far
exceeding anything that charity is likely to
eQect-to those who think we are better
equipped for carrying on this work than
other persons not having these advantages,
we offer 10 undertake the management and
the distribution of any funds entrusted to
us. We believe that money so spent Will be
well spept. All assistance in the shape OF
food or clothing which reaches the children
and helpless persons will tighten or remove
much Immediate suffering, without exag-
gerating the chronic evils requiring differ
ent and continuous treatment for a perma-
neBt cure. Subscriptions and clothing will
be received by the Countess of Zetland at
the Vice-Regal Lodge; Miss Balfour at the
Chief Secretary's Lodge, or by the Viceroy
or Secretary BalfOur."