Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-06
England's Responsibility for Loss of Life
bV Famine.

IL IS impossible tor the editor of The Cosmo-
politan to reply personally to the many letters
received from admirers of Queen Victoria re.
regarding the frontispiece which appeared in
the July issue. point Justly raised was that
Mr.. Hawthorne's article in the July number
did not seem to bear out the severity of the ed
itorial comment. widely-extended plague
IS indeed, difficult thing for even the best or
ganizatlon to handle. 1t was not, however, to
the plague that reference was intended, but to
the famine which had carried off at the time of
his visit eight millions of people, and from
which at least twenty millions were destined to
perish
If plague is difficult, famine is simple.
1t involves no elements except goveInmc ntal
appropriation sufficiently large enough to re-
lieve suffering.
England boasts that she is the richest nation
on earth. While India starved, food was rot
ting in American granaries and could have been
bought at prices never SO low before.
1t may be set down as an axiom that the
Christian nation acquiring territory by CONQUEST
or purchase assumes the undoubted response
bility of protecting the lives of thd people so
added to its population. There is no COM
plant that the English treasury is not full; that
food may not be had in abundance, and that
the problems of logistics is not of the very
simplest character.
Upon what ground, then, does England, as
nation, justify its Indifference while twenty
millions of its people are perishing of want
almost within sight of the En6ish locomotives
which could SO easily transport part of the
worlds over-abundance?
What wond the English people say of the
German Emperor if with stores so abundant
that he knew not how to bring about their con-
sumption, he permitted twenty millions of his
people to die in the awful tortures Of starvation
If at such time he held acarnival and jubilee,
would they not say that Nero 6ddling while
Rome burned was gentle and gracious empe-
ror i'll comparison to him who could revel while
twenty millions were being tortured to death?
The fact that these subjects of the queen are
OF different color from the English people
that they ale themselves poor, and that their
territory is dis tant one-constitutes not the
slightest excuse for existing conditions.
Here is the situations:
England assumed the Government of India
in order to extract from its people some hum
dreds of millions to he a lded to already large
English fortunes.
England is amply able to provide hundred
times over for every starving East Indian.
England spends millions in jubilaton whilA,
under the feeble pretense of relief, she permits
these people to die in agonies drawn out over
months
The intention of England is deliberate, and
now that the Cosmopolitan has shown this al
most uncomfortable reality, the tortures indct-
ed will be continued with the full knowledge of
the Queen and every subject, and correspond
ing responsibility. -Cosmopolitan.
Speaker Reed takes the chair and says 6"
will please come to order l don't believe in
the efficiency of prayer, SO will dispense with
it to-day. The records of the preceding meet
ing are considered, read and approved There
is no unfinished business on hand, and even if
there were, do not consider myself quorum
at this stage of the game. Did hear a motion
to adjourn? Well, | should remark, for nv
hearing is very acute, and when it comes to ad-
journng am quorum from Ouorumville If
am in favor of adjourning will please sign-
fly it by saying Aye If | am opposed, don't
know myself have it. stand adjourned"
is the way the Memphis Appeal describes ses-
sion of the present congress- Butler Co. Press.
One of the grand hymns, called "Salvations
Free" will have to be excluded from the hymn
book. heavy tariff tax has been laid OH
Bibles. Beer managed to get off without taxes
~ little sharp management on the plrt Of its
political friends. Bibles have no such friends.
Bibles have no such friends, so they were taxed
independent News.
THERE is no particular chance of the striLa