The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-13
ENGL AMOS HUMANITY.
She Lets Countless Thousands Perish
In India While She Exhausts Her
Money IN Killing Thousands In south
Africa.
SCOTS Hill. y. c.. July I.


Scott's Hill. y. G.. July I.
Editors Messenger:
A circular letter has come into my
possession embodying IN appeal TO the
American people for aid in behalf OF
the starving millions OF British India.
This lester Is dated June /. 1900. and
opens in the following language:
Famine from lack of rain Is now
shifting sixty millions OF our fellow
beings. At this momont death by sheer
hunger and thirst threatens one-sixth
OF that number. Thousands are starv-
ing each t~wenty-four hours. And the
Woe has not yet reached its worst.
Face 10 face with even such horrors
sul stand countless little children and
women and men whom food will save
This is truly al awful and far-reach-
ing calamity. These dying peiple are
British subjects They have been under
British domination for a long period
OF time. Held down by 8 restless power
they have been Systematically robbed
OF their annual saving to swell the
golfers or a nation rich and arrogant
ooasting the highest civilization of no
Nineteenth century. Why does not .he
British government relieve tlese
people? To do so is a moral ohliga ion
resting upon that. government. /. i
contended that every effort is being
made by that government 70 accom-
plish that end. but that the task s. TOO
sigantlc TO be accomplished success
FULLY without outside aid. Is this tr.,.,
Ihls is not true. For many months
the wealth and energy OF the Rri,ish
empire nave been exerted for the ar
tainment OF a pos but that r,ir-
pose Is not the alienation Of tn. s,ir-
ierinss OF the Hindoo. Hundreds OF
millions Of pounds sterling have h..n
spent and are being spent. not n -
liene distress, but 10 create il. The
policy or Britain is now causing Wide
spread destruction n death IN two
continents If the money being spent
" ms government for the murder Of
christians in South Africa was usad
70 procure bread for it's starving Suh-
Jects' IL might not be necessary for
the world TO become n charity dis-
penser TO these subjects.
lndla might. If not interfered with
IN heF agriculture feed her people
from the products OF her rich soil. hn,
the Hindoo is permitted IN pIan. ,,Ty
d part or his soil in grain-ius; enorrh
under ordinary conditions 10 feed those
dependent upon him. All Of The re-
ndIhuer must be given 10 the growth
FcPPy hldHl- opium has a h1u
sane IN china and the British govern
ment wants money. Consequently H.
filndoo must raise opium. II = 1ronth
CONES ana the crop of grain Is short
starvation follows.
Hhat matter the death OF a few MI
nohs Hlndoos? Must the policy of En-
Iand be changed simply becauea
Two nlllions OF these ignorant heath
ems Ole occasionally? This proud mIa
800 = the sea needs money 10 pre-
serve her prestige among the n~atiors
bhatne 9arth. and how can that money
eer De mad than from the opjun,
nerds OF India and the gold and dia-
Hund mines OF the T~ransvaalp
a r1hsHsn statesman is no maudlI,
sentiniehtallst. He knows a good thing
wien ne sees II. and is not going r.
waste any time in considerinp whashe,'
the means employed for its at,aia
nieht are right or not. The considera-
~ OF such things is not for the baads
" great governments. but are esnaciaI.
= 10 the clergy and IIer
a recent writer from India Tins de-
scfipes a scene which he witnassaa
uhuer the glorious protection NJ H.
British flag: III"
one morning coming from tho =,
I'VE city to my house I saw in the val
go ~soVerhnent bungalow a Eur
pan seated at a table in front Of
tent. Around him were a numhar -
Ipo!s' OF native policemen. In from,
:, nm on the ground In rows vyere
aoout 200 natives when opposite ~
nIIn on the road a middle-aged native
- - crowd ran TO me and throw
ing himself on the ground Crashed mo
opott the legs and put his forehead
81 NY snoes; then. still kneeling WITH
ms pare knees oil the stony road he
heio up in one hand a paper and in the
other a few rupees. saying that the
ahsoon "ala sanib a made him take
d contract by which he was IN nIan.
SO much land in poppy and ha1 49,
I'll % Ihuch money as advance paw
Inent- He urgently pleaded with ,ears
nd IL was against HIS religion. his
Iasle ms custom. to raise opium: thar
ne wanted TO raise bread for his fam
Ly. he begged me to infercaJa uI,h
rs opium agent to annul the contract
1 Il1ted him up ard told him that r
would like to help him. but couid 10
holnIng Whatever. and would not dare
10 interfere with the sircar. or govern
neht ofncers. \ number OF these ma
Ives went 10 The magistrate Of the
nslr!ct; VINO demonstrated with the
agent out the latter suggested tina.
ne would show more discretion IL hc
attended TO his own business. Thou-
sands Of the natives were zelzed h.
the sepoys and brought in md com
ptIIeo 10 accept contracts. Sor they,
were unable to sign their names 70
tnein, and to receive advances -
Money" VI
IN the meantime the ports Of China
are kept open for the sale Of opium bx-
5rltlsn gunboats-the hines govarn
ment being strongly averse TO the ,rar-
Inc-the famine In India RACES. while
~ Sleeos OF millions OF money is spent
IN south Africa for the murder Of
christians in that PARKWAY land.
, p K "