The morning times., 1897-01-03
Judge Goodridge's Letter.


lished last week in the Enelishman, Io.nt-
ing out that the means adopted by the
government of India to check the famine
in that country were entirely inadequate,
and declaring that thousands of persons
are dying from starvation, calls attention
10 the general apathy on the subject thus
far displayed in England.
The queen ONE time ago sent telegram
10 the viceroy of India, expressing sympa-
thy for the sufferers, and promising that
they would he assisted, but thus far moth
ing of consequence has been done by the
imperial government to avert the effects
OF one of the greatest calamities that has
ever threatened India
Comparisons are made in the matter
between the attitude of Great Britain and
Russia, which do not rebound greatly to the
credit of this country.
Famine Bothers the Car.
1t is known that the czar has several
times expressed himself as being deeply
concerned in the outcome of, the famine,
and his interest has taken a practical
turn which will undoubtedly result in some
alleviation of the widespread distress i'll
the Indian empire of Great Britain.
VI
to secure aid for the sufferers was a grand
concert, which produced a large sum Of
money. All the artists who appeared
volunteered their services, and all the
receipts were devoted to the funds for the
victims. AS the affair was under the
direct patronage of the czar and czarina,
almost the entire court was present, as
were also the civic and military officials
in st Petersburg.
The newspapers Of Moscow and st. Pc
tersburg continue their earnest appeals for
help for the famine sufferers, and in other
directions steps are being taken TO aid the
victims.
In some English quarters the opinion OBJ
tains that this generous action Of the Rus
slams is only mask, hiding some deep
laid political scheme, having for its OBJ
ject the raising OF disaffection in India
against British rule.
Thousands of Natives Dying.
Some OF the Tory papers express their
approval of declarations that have appeared
in certain Indian papers to the effect that
aid from such Il source should not be ac-
cepted. But they do not urge the govern
ment to extend aid to the sufferers, and in
the meantime thousands Of the natives are
dying.
There is 10 question in the minds OF those
who are not blinded by hatred of Russia
that the Russian movement had its origin
entirely in charitable motives ,aaBd that it
was intended as a response to the foreign
aid given at tie time OF the great Russian
famine some five years ago. Y
Tile Russian newspapers pointed out in
their appeals for subscriptions that had it
not been for the aid extended to the Rus
sian sufferers by Great Britain and the
United States, tie death roll would have
been much larger than it actually was
Quantities OF grain have been purchased
with the money raised by public subscrip-
tions in Russia, and the Russian government
has undertaken to forward the grain TO
India, free of cost.
The opinion is gaining ground that the In
dian government is not able TO cope with
the situation, and that unless imperial aid
is extended the famine will prove one of
the most calamitous visitations OF the kind
that has ever affected India.