Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-05
SUFFERING IN iceland.


Much Distress Caused by the Failure u the
Potato Crop.
The Earl Of Zetland. viceroy Of Ireland, and
Chief Secretary Balfour signed . 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
WILL If the people are not aided, reach stage
OF acute distress during the winter and spring.
There is neither q resident gentry nor sub
stsntial middle class to give employment, nor
are there charitable organizations TO aid those
who are unable TO aid themselves. Outdoor
relief, except in cases Of emergency, cannot
legally be administered except TO persons
holding over a quarter Of an acre Of land.
Although none acquainted with the history Of
the Irish poor law would regard the relaxing
Of this rule as other than public calamity, its
maintenance undoubtedly limits the capacity
to deal with periods of exceptional distress.
The position thus credited leaves a part of the
social organism sick at all tiynes-stricken with
a disease from which, without extraneous help,
IL has no power to rally.
SYSTEMATIC CHARITY.
''The question is not whether money ought
to be given, but how it ought to be given, to
what class and for what special purposes.
Charity in-administered injuries the recipients
every where, but is especially injurious 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 con-
gested districts the whole community may be
affected. All are poor. all can plausibly appeal
for aid. and help recklessly given in refponse
may infect whole townships with the vices and
weaknesses of professional mendicancy. We
have spoken Of this matter to 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 among whom they lived, who did not ad-
much charitable expenditure within their ex-
perience.
MANY EXAGGERATED ACCOUNTS.
Regarding the appeals for help 1t is nsedful
to say that tales of distress need not be taken
as authentic because they are couched in
strong language and seem to come from we'll
informed quarters The desire to stimulate
tagging charity has been fruitful source of
exaggeration. We do not know that there is
any reason to suppose that in Ireland this ten
dency is likely to be controlled by long-estab-
lished habits of severe and disciplined accu-
racy. 1t is not easy adequately to check such
statements, even by personal observation aided
by statistics. however accurate.
In regard to the failure Of the potato crop.
small occupiers in the west seem at first sight
all to live much In the same way. They are
kind Of holdings and are clothed with the same
kind of dress. 1t would 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 On the potato.
Every district has means of livelihood indie
pendent Of the cultivation Of the potato. such
as fishing, labor in England. cottage indus
tries. help-making and sales of farm stock.
''The degree of the failure of the potato crop
is. therefore by itself misleading guide to the
degree Of distress existing among the people,
Other clements in the finding of the position of
the people are the amount of their savings and
their debt and credit with local tradesmen.
Furthermore, in the organization Of any plan
OF gratuitous assistance caution is necessary in
order that it shall not interfere with the system
Of railway relief works. Several thousands of
pounds weekly are already distributed in the
form of wages in the districts most in need
Those getting wages through -ork ought not to
get charity without it.
HOW THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN.
''The conclusions we come to are that charit-
able aid ought to be confined. first to families
which are in serious want, and which, having
no able-bodied person among them, cannot de-
rive benefit from the public relief works; Sec
ond, to providing meals in the schools for chill
dren attending them, and, third, to supplying
clothes for children unable to procure them
liable to abuse than Others
The declaration proceeds to discuss the requi-
sites for good distribution of aid among the
poor. The authority for such distribution. it
says, should be single, for the vesting of this
authority in more than one person would cause
confusion as to areas and. inequality of re-
sources, and would lead to no rational adjust
ment between needs and means. The single
distributing authority ought to command all
available means of information as to the condi-
ton of the people throughout the country.
The declaration concludes: ITO those who
think that we, who can obtain the services of
poor law inspectors. school inspectors, reliey-
ing officers, resident magistrates, the police
and others resident in the localities affected
and who already are officially responsible for
relief works far exceeding anything that
charity is likely effect-to those who think that
We are better equipped for carrying out this
work than persons not having these advantages,
we offer to undertake the management of the
distribution of any funds entrusted to Us. We
believe that money SO spent will be well spent.
''All assistance in the shape Of food or cloth
ing through this channel, or any other which
reaches children and helpless persons, will
tighten or remove much immediate suffering,
without exaggerating chronic evils requiring
different and continuous treatment for per-
manent cure. Subscriptions and clothing will
be received by the Countess Of Zetland at the
the vice regal lodge, Miss Balfour at the chief
secretarys lodge, or by the viceroy or Mr..
Balfour."