Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-18
WHAT FAMINE IN INDIA MEANS.
EneInnd's Preparations cannot
Avert Great Loss Of Life.


~ the Queens Indian empire can only
be realized by those who have actually
seen the disastrous consequences OF
widespread scarcity Of food in the more
tblcklv pouulated countries Of Asia. The
government has had to face no such
danger since 1871. when. in spite OF all
it's efforts and the expenditure OF eleven
millions sterling. FIVE and quarter MIL
lion people perished-some from actual
want Of food others from the diseases
that are certain to afilict n famine
stricken population. The authorities
RIGHTLY deprecate a panlc but IL would
be worse than useless 10 conceal the
true facts Of the situation. Agricultural
prospects IN Northern India could hardly
be moro homeless. Nothing but a general
rainfall of three or four inches within
the next week or 50 would suffice TO
make uuirrigated lands ~ for the "rabt'
eowines. The early break OF the rains
has had disastrous effects. Bundelcund'
the central pfovinces, and all the black
cotton land down 10 the Berars got
fair amount o. rain during the earlier
mart of the monsoon, and are conse-
0ucntlv better of for the moment; but
when IL comes 20 the spring crop the
people I'm these tracts VIII DE as sore
messed as the population OF the Puniaub
and northwest provinces. From Ndgpuf
northward TO Bareilly Ca distance, rough
~ measured. OF 500 miles,. and from
Patua. I'm Behar, westward 70 Peshawur,
on the Afghan frontier double that dis
tance). acute distress Is inevitable Even
should next spring give a bumper harvest
there would be much suffering between
then and now. The most sanguine OIL
cias are afraid e. expect more than hali
the normal yield: and that, coming after
a succession OF lean seasons, implies tood
II famine prices over the WnOie region.
From the present moment 10 the mllule
of next June, therefore. the people Will
groan under what r., perhaps, the most
awful tribulation that can be inflicted on
great masses OF the human race. livery
means of alienation and Of preventing
actual death from want OF food, will. we
may rest assured. be adopted by Lord
Elgin's Government; but suffering there
must be. so grievOus that one shrlnks
from estimating It's degree.
The most we can hope IS that measures
OF relief will be so directed and applied
that every rupee spent shall have It's iuii
effect fu saving life and averting intOle-
rable misery. IL has been otherwise ln me
past. During the Orissa famine OF iel9- %
one fourth OF the population OF the anect-
ed districts persisted. In the behar ram
inc twelve years later, loss OF NE. III
deed. was prevented. the government I'M
ported grain. which, IN a limited area in
tersected with rivers and railroads. could
easily be distributed; but the expense was
far heavier than IL need have been.
Millions Of money We're wasted. Ihere
came the Madras famine OF lSlJ-'U. There
was a difference OF opinion between the
local and supreme governments. The lat
ter endeavored TO enforce more econpill-
cal expenditure. Whether Lord Lytton ana
Sir John Strachey We're right ana the
Duke OF buckingham and his advisers
were wrong. or whether the Madras Cow
eminent would have done better without
interference from Simla, are questions 10
which even a royal commission failed 10
give A final and conclusive answer; but
the fact remains that the mortality was
enormous and the expenditure great at the
same time. IN many respects. II may De
said. the Indian administration is better
prepared 20 undertake a famine now IMAM
Il was In 1s77. Since then there has been
an immense development Of railway COM
munication: and throughout the threaten
"a area the authorities are only waiting
for orders 10 begin public works which
viii provide many thousands with employ
ment. In the northwest provinces. indec T.
relief works have been open all through
the hot weather; and, as Lord Elgln stated
ia council the other day, az one time as
many rs 5000 people We're employed. on
the other hand. the extent OF territory
which has to be safeglerled may well
excite uneaslness; and there are other
circumstances. too. which must De taken
we fear, into account. Il the European
civil service as efficient as 81 was a dozen
VI ID. 10 ~
and devotion; but the senior ranks have
been sadly depleted by premature retire
ments. In these days Of a deprecated
rupee a civilian usually takes his pension
the moment he has earned g., and the
men who could best lead q famine cam
palgn are out Of the service.
In regard 20 the cost Of famine relief. IL
IS satisfactory 20 know that a repetition
Of the reckless expenditure that took
place in Lord NorthbroOk's time is alto
gether unlikely. Even before the fear Of
q scarcity had overshatowed the land.
Lord Eigin's government. with the, APP
prevail OF the Secretary Of State in TOun-
cil. had decided on carrying out an elabo-
rate scheme Of railway extension, which
can easily be adapted 10 the necessities
Of the situation. 4 very large portion OF
the money spent on measures OF relief viii
thus be devOt "a 10 remuneratiye projects,
which would have been carried out in any
case. the only difference being that some
Of these VIII be completed at an earlier
date than was originally contemplated.
This In no inconsilerable degree will dl-
mlnish the burden Of the disaster We
may hope. moreover, that timely precau-
ions will suffice 10 prevent loss of life
from actual deprivation. and that none
will starve because food is uuprocurable.
The state Will provide every one with
the means OF earning al least "a bare sub
sstence. and IL looks as II the operations
OF private enterprise might be trusted TO
place provisions within the reach OF all
who can nav for them. Philanthropy too
may help 70 alleviate the sufferlngs 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 Il will meet with 4 ready re-
sponse from the charitable In England.
Yet famine r. attended by a train OF evil
consequences which IN many cases mel
Their the government nor private agencies
must attempt 70 deal with. Only when the
average death rate Of the next six months
can be compared with that Of n normal
season will IL be possible even TO guess
nov many have succumbed under the pro-
lonced strain Of insufficient nOuriShment.
only when Il IS all over shall We know
how many families have been reduced
from n condition OF comfort. and even
prosperity. to AFFECT pauperism. And the
finest race IN India, the stalwart Jat
farmers OF the Puniaub. will be among
the greatest sufferers