The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1891-01-05
IRELAND NEEDS HELP
The People In Many Districts Are On
the Verge Of Starvation.
BALFOUR ADMITS THE FACT
And Urges Charitable People to
Contribute to the Suffering Peo-
pie Whom His Laws Have
Ground TO Poverty.

Ground TO Poverty.
DUBLIN. Jan. 4.-The Earl Of Zetland,
viceroy OF Ireland, and Chief Secretary
Balfour sign a declaration which has
been issued on the condition Of the poor
in the western parts OF Ireland. The
declaration says: Poverty is chronic in
some districts and will, II the people are
not aided, reach the stage Of acute dis
tress during tho winter and spring. There
Is neither a resident party nor n substan-
tial middle class 10 give employment, nor
are there charitable organizations to aid
these who are unable TO aid themselves.
| Outdoor relief except cases of emer-
| geucy, cannot he legally administered
except to persons holding over q quarter
OF sn acre of land. Although none ac-
quainted with the history Of the Irish poor
law would regard the relaxing of this rule
as other than q public calamity, its main
tenance undoubtedly limits the capacity
te deal with the periods Of exceptional
distress.
"The position thus created leaves part
of tho social organism Of the sick at all
time stricken with disease from which,
without extraneous help, il has no power
20 rally.
"The question Is not whether money
ought 10 be given, but how IL ought to be
given, TO what class and for what special
purposes. Charity, III administered, in
jures the recipients everywhere. but il is
especially injurious in those parts with
which we are concerned. Every
where the injury may be confined
to class relatively small, but
in the worst portions Of the congested
districts, a whole community may be af-
fected. All are poor, all can plausibly
appeal for aid, and help recklessly given
in response may infect whole townships
with vices and weakness Of professional
mendicancy.
ave have spoken of this matter 10
many priests and others acquainted with
the condition Of the people. There was
not one Of them, however keenly they
may have felt the sufferings of those
amongst whom they lived, who did not
admit that permanent Ill effects followed
from much charitable expenditure within
their experience.
Regarding appeals for help, II is
needful 10 say that the tales Of distress
need not be taken as authentic, because
they are couched In strong language and
seem 10 come from well-informed quar-
ters. In regard to the failure Of the po-
tato crop, small occupiers In the west
seem at first sight all 10 live in the same
way They are all lodged in
small cabins. cultivate the same
kind Of holdings and are clothed with
the same kind of dress. II would be nat
ural 10 conclude that In all places where
the failure Of the crop is the same the dis
tress is the same, but such is not the case.
In no district does the bulk of humanity
live wholly upon the potato. Every dis
trct has the means Of livelihood inde-
pendent Of the cultivation of the potato.
The degree Of failure Of the potato crop
is therefore, by itself misleading as much
as TO the degree of the distress existing
among the people. Other elements IN
the findings Of the position Of the
people are the amount Of their savings
and their debt and credit with local
tradesmen. Furthermore, in the organi-
zation Of any plan OF gratuitous assist
ance caution is necessary in order that it
shall not interfere with the system of
railway relief works. Several thousand
pounds sterling weekly are distributed In
the form OF wages in the districts most in
need.
"The conclusions we come 10 are that
charitable aid ought to be confined first
TO families which are in serious
want, aud which having no
|. able-bodied person among them, and
cannot derive benefit from the public
relief works; second, 10 providing meals
in schools for the children attending
them; and third. to supplying clothes for
children unable 10 procure them else
where.
The declaration concludes: ITO those
: who think We who can obtain the services
Of the poor law inspectors, school inspect
ors, relieving officers, resident magis-
trate, police and other residents in the lo-
: calities affected, and who are already Of
ficially responsible for relief works far
: exceeding anything that charity is likely
to effect, TO those who think we are
better equipped for carrying this
work than other persons not having these
advantages, we offer TO undertake the
management Of the distribution Of any
funds entrusted 10 US. We believe that
! money so spent will be well spent. All
the assistance in the shape Of food or
clothing which reaches the chill
dren and helpless persons will
tighten or remove much immediate
suffering without exaggerating the chronic
evils requiring different and continuous
treatment for permanent cure. Subscrip-
tions and clothing will be received by the
Countess Of Zetland, at the vice regal
lodge, Miss Balfourat the chief secretary's s
I o dge, or by the viceroy or Balfour.n