The sun., 1891-01-05
CAUSE OF IRISH DISTRESS.
TIE RESULT OF BALFOUR'S STUDIES
IN SURFERING DISTRIC1S.


He Says th.s Iaaissri.a,.sts Charity Does
Much Harn-His ORer 60 distribute
Funds where They Are Most Required.
DUBLIN. Jan. I-The Earl Of Zstland. Vice.
roy Of Ireland. and Chief Secretary Balfour
have signed q declaration which has been
issued on tho condition OF tho poor In the
western part Of ireland. 1t says:
Poverty Is chronic In some districts. and
will. II tho people arc not aided. reach stage
Of acute distress during the winter and spring.
There ia neither resident gentry nor sub
stantial 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 smereency. cannot
legally be administered except to persons
holding over quarter Of IN acre Of land. Al
though none acquainted with the history OF
the Irish Poor law would regard the relaxing
Of this rule a. other than public calamity. its
maintenance undoubtedly limits the capacity
to deal with periods Of exceptional distress.
Tho position thus created leaves part Of the
social organization sick at all times-strickon
with . disease from which. without extrane.
GUS help It has no power to rally.
THE question Is not whether money ought
to be given. but how It ought to be given. to
what class and for what special purposss.
Charity Ill administered Injuries tho recipients
everywhere. 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 por-
munity may be affected. All are Door. all can
plsusibly appeal for aid, and help recklessly
given In response may infect whole townships
with tho vices and weak nesses of professional
mendicancy.
I'VE have spoken Of this matter to many
priests and others acquainted with the condi-
ton Of tho people. There was not one Of them.
however keenly they may have felt tho suffer-
ines OF those among whom they lived. who did
not admit that permanent Ill effects followed
from much charitable expenditure within their
experience.
Regarding the appeals for help. 1t is needful
to say that tales Of distress need not be taken
as authentic because they are couohed in
strong language. and seem to como from WE'LL
informed quarters. Tho desire to stimulate
tagging charity has been . fruitful source Of
e1aggeration. We do not know that there is
any. resson. to suppose that in ireland this
tsppdepsy II LIKELY to be controlled hy i3ng. .ss-
by statistics, however accurate
small 9ccupIe,s r. The west seem. At ilEst sight.
al to aye @ much In the & same ,Way tn They are
honss Rh ss&s
same kind Of dress. 1t would be natural to
conclude that in all places where tho failure Of
The bull 81 the community i've Wholly "a ths
Independent Of tho cultivation Of the potato.
such IS as hshinE labor in EnSland cottage H.
The dssree Of the failure Of ss tho potaso crop
therefore 81 Itself ., misleadina guide l., the
degree Of distress eristi3E 3 M aTcns ths peope
dsSs a5s
in order that !. shslE rot Interfere With the
sssds Tssy sr
nted IN the form Of WAGES in the districts most
in nse Th9ss 6 SSestT through work
The conclusions we come to are that ohari-
table aid ought to be confined. first to families
NO HsS sble bodied PERSON among them ds
rive benefit from the public relief works: see-
% dqsn asendins them. and third. os to suppyins m @
ssissTiers; s Thsss io5%s @ oi assistance are less less
S sSsss
as shc1d TIA 5. 01 es spfh shs
this authority in more than ono person would
S vsua % e ssi and
glo distributing authority ought to command
all available means OF informa alton as to the
condition q the people throughout the coun-
To those tn 'i who think 'tha. we. who can oh.
tain the services Of pooE law inspeetors school
trates. the police and others resident In locall-
ties affected, and who already are OFFICIALLY re-
thing that charity is likely to affect: TO those
who think that We are better equipped for car
these advantages. we oler to undertake the
management Of the distribution Of any funds
spent will be we'll spent.
AN assistance In the shape OF food or
clothing through this channel. or any other
whIoh reaches children and helpless persons.
ferinR. without exaRgersting chronic evils re-
quirine different and continpous treatment
clothing will be received by the Countess OF
Zetland at the VicereRal lodge Miss Balfour ct
the Chief secrstary's lodge. or by the Viceroy
or Mr.. BRlfour."
PARNELL'S MOVEMENTS.