The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-11-05

IN the time of Abraham. Hundreds of
years before Christ Rome had its famine,
and in modern times the gaunt hand Of
want has removed thousands from Italy
Great Britain has had its share Of fam
Ines, and even rs late as the twelfth CEN
tury 30, 900 people starved in London The
Irish famines in the eighteenth century
were the most notable of these but the
worst that has occurred since that great
one following the war with the Desmonds
was that of 1901. The foundation for
this was laid in the severe winter Of 1889
when the potato crop was entirely de-
stroyed. By the succeeding January desti-
tuition was widespread and ragged with dire
Intensity. The effects were shocking Al
though vast numbers of the Irish peas-
antry found their way to America no less
than 200, 900 died by inches, the victims of
starvation. The death list was further
added to by the merciless enforcement of
the laws, for hundreds of hungry men
who stole bread rather than starve were
promptly hanged, Then came the typhus
fever, which doubled the number Of vic
tins, so that by the fall of 1S41 more than
400, 900 of the Irish people had died most
wretched deaths
These scenes have been duplicated in a
somewhat lesser degree on several subse-
quent occasions, and it was always the
failure of the potato crop which did the
mischief. Instead OF drought, however, as
In India, 1t was the cold and rainy season
that killed the crops. In 1855 the Irish
famine was due to the potato blight, which
was felt to some extent in this country
and Canada This famine cost the British
government over S55, 900, 900 and the Unit
STNfnl haCiHaG - Al
lars In private subscriptions, sent two
warships loaded with provisions. 1t was
more than two years before Ireland fully
recovered from this famine, for as late as
lS4S 1000, 900 persons, or about one In ey-
er seven, We're receiving aid. The famine
of 1890 was not quite so dreadful in its re-
suits but it was bad enough.
Russia, too, has had its great famines
and the terrible sufferings of the czar's
subjects in 1923 are recent enough to be
remembered by every one.
But has been the famine land from
tin mortal When nature smiles
al vne rains come IN their season, there is
no more fruitful soil than that which lies
south of the snow capped Himalayas. At
Its best India Is paradise, and the human
increase is almost as great as that which
the soil produces in the grain. But when
the simoom is dry, then the face Of the
country changes, and death mows down
millions.
BY encouraging irrigation the British
government has done little something to
ward of famine, and by extending the
transportation system the means of fight
Ing starvation and disease have been in
creased, but still, in spite of all that has
been done or can now be done, many thou
sands OF natives will probably die of hun
ger within the next few months. The man
on whose shoulders falls tho responsibility
OF fighting death for the helpless millions
In the famine districts is the Earl of Elgin
and Kincardine He is descendant Of
Robert Bruce, and his father before him |
occupied the post of viceroy and governor
general Of India. He has held office only |
since 1893, bit this is not his first famine |
experience. ALFRED Il. RowLEY,