The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-21
WHAT THE FAMINE IN INDIA
MEANS.
England's Preparations Cannot
Avert Great Loss of Life.
From the st James's Gazette.

| AV6TI lII61I AO55 vi 1l1AO.
-
From the St James's Gazette.
The appalling calamity which seems ready
IN descend upon considerable part of the
Queens Indian empire can only be realized
by those who have actually seen the disastrous
consequences ola widespread scarcity of food
in the more thickly populated countries Of
Asia. The Government has had to face no
such danger since 1877, when, in spite of all
its efforts and the expenditure of eleven mil
lions sterling, five and quarter million people
perished-some from actual want of food,
others from the diseases that are certain to
afflict famine-stricken population. The
authorities rightly depreeate panic; but 1t
would be worse than useless to conceal the
true facts OF the situation. Agricultural pros
poets in northern India could hardly be more
hopeless. Nothing but general rainfall OF
three or four inches within the next week or
so would suffice to make unirrigated lands Fit
for the ''rabi'' sowings. The early break of
the rains has had disastrous effects. Bundel-
cund, the central provinces, and all the black
cotton land down to the Berars got a fair
amount of rain during the earlier part of the
monsoon, and are consequently better OH Tor
the moment; but when it comes to the spring
crop the people in these tracts will be as sore
pressed at the population Of the Punjaub and
northwest provinces From Nagpur north
ward to Bareilly "a distance, roughly meas
ured. of 500 miles J, and from Patna, in Behar,
westward to Peshawur on the Afghan frontier
| double that distance), acute distress is lnev-
| table Even should next spring give bum
per harvest. there would be much suffering
between then and now. The most sangune
| officials are afraid to expect more than hall
the normal yield; and that, coming after
succession of lean seasons, implies food at
IL -I,r.la
the present moment till the middle of next
June, therefore, the people will groan under
what is perhaps the most awful trbulation that
can be inflicted on great masses of the human
| race. Every means of alienation, and OF
preventing actual death from want of food,
will. we NAV rest insured be adopted by Lord
EIgin's Governments; but suffering there must
be. so grievous that one shrinks from estimat-
ing its degree.
The most we can hope is that measures OF
relief will be so directed and applied that
every rupee spent shall have its full effect III
saving life and averting intolerable misery
1t has been otherwise in the past. During
the Orissa famine of 1866 one-fourth of the
population of the affected districts persisted.
In the Behar famine, twelve years later, loss
of life, indeed, was prevented. The Govern
ment imported grain, which, in limited area
intersected with rivers and railroads, could
easily be distributed; but the expense was far
heavier than it need have been. Millions OF
money were wasted. Then came the Madras
famine of 1861 There was a difference
of opinion between the local and supreme
Governments. The latter endeavored to en-
force more economical expenditure.
Whether Lord Iytton and Sir john Strachey
were right, and the Duke of Buckingham and
his advisers were wrong, or whether the
Madras Government would have done better
without interference from Simla, are questions
to which even q royal commission failed TO
give final and conclusive answer; but the
fact remains that the mortality was enormous
and the expenditure great ut the same time.
In many respects, it may be sad, the Indian
administration is better prepared to under
take famine now than IT was IN 1871.
Since then there has been an immense devel,
opment of railway communication; and
throughout the threatened area the authorities
are only waiting for orders to begin public
works which will provide many thousands with
employment. In the northwest provinces,
indeed relief works have been open all through
, the hot weather; and, rs Lord ElgIn stated IN
council the other day, at one time as many as
, 300. 600 people were employed. on Inc
other hand, the extent of territory which has
, to be safeguarded may well excite uneasiness
, and there are other circumstances, too, which
must be taken, we fear, into account Is the
, European civil service as efficient as II was d
dozen wears ago? We do not doubt its energy
f and devotion, but The senior ranks have been
sadly depleted by premature retirements. IL
these DAYS of deprecated rupee a civilian
, usually takes his pension the moment he mas
earned il; and the men who could best lead Il
famine campaign are out OF the service.
!, In regard TO the cost of famine relief, 1t !:
satisfactory TO know that a repetition OF the
! reckless expenditure that took place in Lord
Northbrook time is altogether unlikely
, Even before the fear of a scarcity had over
Swallowed the land. Lord Elgin,s Govern
meut. with the approval of the Secretary 81
! State in Council, had decided on carrying oul
, an elaborate scheme of railway extension,
/ which can easily be adapted to the necessities
of The situation. A very large portion OF the
, money spent on measures of reliefwill thus be
, devoted TO remunerative projects, which
would have been carried out in any case, the
only difference being that some of these wll
be completed at an earlier date than was
, originally contemplated This in no incon-
| siderable degree will diminish the burden OF
i the disaster. We may hope, moreover, thai
timely precautions will suffice to prevent loss
, of life from actual deprivation, and that none
/ will starve because food is unprocurable. The
, State will provide every one with the means
of earning at the least bare subsistence, anu
i it looks as if the operations of private enter
prise might be trusted to place provisions
. within the reach of all who can pay for them.
J Philanthropy, too, may help 10 alleviate the
j sufferings of those whom the official executive
cannot easily reach; and should an appeal be
made by any Of our missionary societies who
, are working in India, we have little doubt
! that it will meet with ready response from
: the charitable in England. Yet famine is at
tended by train of evil consequences which,
in many cases, neither the Government MOI
private agencies must attempt to deal with
Only when the average death rate of the nexi
six months can be compared with that of q
normal season will it be possible even to guess
how many have succumbed under the pro
longed strain of insufficient nourishment
Only when it is all over shall we know how
many families have been reduced from con
dition of comfort, and even prosperity, to
abjeet pauperism. And the finest race in
India, the stalwart Jat farmers of the Punlaub,
will be among the greatest sufferers.