The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-05

CO... WALL ChARIl \
The viceroy Of Ireland Wants Aid
Administered on the Balfour
System.
Indiscriminate Assistance Do
clared to be Hurtful to The
Recipient.
Declaration Of the Earl OF ZetIand on the
Condition Of tho Poor Of
tho Island.

DUBLIN, Jan. 4.-The earl of Zetland,
vicerOy OF Ireland and chief secretary Of
Balfour, has signed declaration which has
been issusd on the condition OF the poor in
the western part of Ireland. The declara-
tion says: Poverty IL chronic in some dis
tricts and will, II the people are not aided,
reach the stage OF acute distress during the
winter and the spring. There is neither
resident party nor substantial middle
class to give employment, nor are there any
charitable organizations to aid those who
are unable to aid themselves. Outdoor re-
lief, except in cases Of emergency, cannot
legally be admin stered except to persons
holding over quarter Of HI acre Of land.
Although none acquainted with the history
of the Irish poor law would regard the
relaxing Of this rule az other than public
calamity, it's maintenance undoubtedly
limits the capacity to deal with the periods
Of exceptional distress. The position thus
created leaves a part OF the social organism
sick at all time, stricken with disease
from which. without sxtraneous help, it has
no power TO rally. The question il not
whether money ought to be given, but how
it ought to be given to what class and for
what special purposes. Charity ill-admin-
istered Injuries ITS recipients everywhere,
but is especially injurious III those parts
with which We are concerned. Elsewhere
the injury can be confined to class rela-
lively small but in the worst portions of
the congssted districts the Whole commu-
nifty may be effected. All are poor, all can
~ given in response may inject 9
whole township with the vices and
weaknesses OF professional mendi-
cancy. We have spoken Of this
matter TO many priests and others ac-
quainted with the conditions of the peo-
keenly they may have felt the sufferinRs OF
those amongst whom they lived, who did
not admit the permanent i'll effects which
followed from too much charitable expen-
diture within their experience. !.
Regarding appeals for help IL is needfni
to say that the tales Of distress need not be
taken az authentic because they are couched
well informed quarters. In regard to the
failure of the potato crop, the small occu-
piers in the west saemtas first sight ali to
live much in the same way. They are all
lodged in small cabins, cultivate the same
kind of holdings and are clothed with the
be natural to conclude that in all
places where the failure Of the crop is the
same, the distress is the same; but such
is not the case. In no district does the
bulk Of the community live wholly upon
tho potato. Every district has means of
the potato. The degree OF failure of the
potato crop is therefore, by itself, mislead-
ing as to the degree Of the distress existing
among the people. Other elements in fnd
ing the position of the people are the
amount Of their savings and their debt and
their credit with local tradesmen.
"Furthermore in the organization OF any
plan of gratu;tous assistance caution il
necessary in order that it shall not inter
fere with the system OF railway relief works.
Several thousand pounds weekly have nj
ready been distributed in the form of wages
in the districts most in need. The conclu-
sions we come to are that charitable aid
ought to be confined first to families
which are in serious want and which hav-
ing no able bodied person among them,
cannot deserve the benefit from the public
relief works; second to providing means in
schools for children attending them: and
third, to supplying clothes for children
The declaration concludes: "To those
who think we who can obtain the services
of the poor law inspectors, the school in
spectors, relieving officers, magistrates
police and other residents In localities af-
fected and who are already responsible fol
the relief works. far exceeding anything
that charity is likely to effect; to those who
thing we are better equipped
for carrying this work thar
other persons not having these
| advantages. we offer to undertake the man
| agementiof the distribution of any fund.-
entrusted to ns. We believe that money 81
spent will be we'll spent All assistance il
the shape Of food or clothing which reaches
the children and helpless persons will
| tighten or remove much immediate suffer
ing without exaggerating the chronic evils
requiring different and continuous treat
mont for permanent cure. Subscriptions
and clothing will bo received by the Coun-
tess of Zetland at the vice regal lodge, Mis-
/ Balfour. at the chief secretary's lodge, ol
| by the YiceroY or Ralfour.n