The Irish standard., 1898-07-02
WHAT A LONDON EDITOR SAYS OF
THE IRISH FAMINE.
DESTITurIoA IN The SOUTH AND WEST
HIS HEART AClI:D AT THE SIGHTS
IN KERRY AND MAYO.
The BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO BLAME
THE POOR FAMISHING PEOPLE HAVE
A SENSE OF DECENCY.

The editor of the Mark Lane Express,
London, recently visited the famine
stricken districts in Ireland and gives
the following account of what he saw in
his tour of observation:
The failure Of the potato crop in Ire
land last year was a sad blow to the
peasantry. They have suffered severe
ly in consequence, as this vegetable is
the principal staple of food amongst
them. They scarcely have taste of
meat from years end to years end, and
their grain food is a limited quantity
OF maize meal. The pig, so. much in evil
dencc, is simply the rent payer; it pro-
vldes money for this purpose, but no
meat for its owner. The distress which
prevails when the sole crop fails is al
most beyond realization by those who
do not depend upon one kind of food.
Ruin comes like an avalanche. There
are few people in England who have
not heard of the pitiful condition of the
Irish poor in the South and West, but
not many are able to realize the dread
full state Of affairs which exists, This
can scarcely be matter for surprise
when even the rulers of the country fail
to see it, or If they do, decline to adj
NIT 1t unless absolutely compelled. i
must say, for myself, that, notwith-
standing that had heard great deal
about Irish distress, failed to realize
what 1t was until Il few days ago, when
l visited portions Of the congestcd dis
tricts, as they are called. had not the
opportunity of inspecting many places,
but l sag sufficient in the counties OF
Mayo and Kerry to make my heart
! ache, and if l can induce some of our
people at home Gn Englnnd) to render
little help shall only have done what
| feel is an absolute Christian duty.
Mans inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands MOURN"
the poet tells US. 1t is only necessary
to visit the distressed parts of Ireland
to see examples of "mun's inhumani-
ty,' and how the men who rule Gre
land) have neglected their duties to-
wards those they have ruled. write
with no political party bias-castng
blame on one party no more than an
other-but on what has been nisgov-
ernment generally.
l had been to Dublin for the cattle
show, as l have for many years, and
thought / would take brief holiday a,
the close. But finding myself drifting
to the west l could not avoid the i'm
preston that l ought to make myself
acquainted with that portion of the pco-
pie who were said to be suffering great
priyation. Consequently l made excurs-
ions to certain villages, of one of which
will tell my readers.
This is in the County Mayo and is
typical of many others in that and other
counties. The village Is quite inland
and the position of the people is heart,
rcnding. Some observers say that the
| peasants here are the worst off, but
| others affirm that those who live OH tho
seacoast are the most to be pitied. 1t is
unnecessary to make a comparison
when both are SO utterly poor, equally
| deserving, and in need of help.
The village l speak of consists of q
few houses; at least they ought to be
houses, but they are mostly novels anG
huts which no Thoughtful and consid
crate man would use for his horses OF
cattle. They are small and ill-lightcd
with foot Of window glass, or none a,
all except through the open door. Tho
occupants squat on the ground around
a peat fire, which fills the hut will
smoke before it gets out of the chimney
What life can be under these condi
tions 1t is not difficult to imagine. re
see this state of things is sickening.
never realized how bad it was until
looked upon it with my own eyes, and
consider that no words could be toe
strong to denounce it.
This want of sanitary supervision i:
|
no excuse for it. More suitable houses
would begct better habits and these
| houses ought to have been provided
long ago. If the landlord was not ahlt
to build them, the government ouEh
to have stepped in and provided dwell
ings at the expense of the land. mus
say, for myself, that | felt ashamed o
the British government allowing sucl
a disgraceful state of affairs to prevail
Some Of this years surplus, which thu
| Chancellor of the cxchcquer had to dea
with, would have been better spent il
improving the condition of the Irisl
poor than in taking trifle off The to-
bacco duty; and my wish is that some
strong man would come to the from
and prove his claim to the name OF T;
statesman and philanthropist by re-
moving this foul blot on our nationa