The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

The appeal for aid for the India Famine
Relief Fund recently issued by the
Christian Herald" Of New York, and the
immediate and generous response from ev-
cry State in the Union has aroused wide
spread interest in the famine-stricken land
Of which Victoria is Empress. The re-
ceipts average more than $4,000 a day and
10000 has already been cabled TO India,
and the paper will at once send a relief
ship with a cargo Of corn for Bombay.
The Queen. or in other words the Gov
eminent. is doing everything possible for
the starving people but the Government
can take care OF only one-tenth OF the
people in the breadless districts Fifty
million are in peril OF death for want of
food; OF these. England can feed only five
million. The remaining forty-fve million
can be helped by other nations. And other
nations. in cases OF distress like this,
means principally the United States.
When Armenia was starving, America fed
Armenia; and in their time Of famine this
country fed also Russia and Cuba. while
during the last famine in India in 1897.
America raised relief fund Of half mil
lion dollars and sent over hundreds Of
thousands Of bushels OF corn. The present
famine In that unfortunate land is spread
over much greater area. and includes
many more millions Of people than the
famine Of three years ago. The breadless
area this time extends over 100000 square
miles east, north, and south Of Bombay.
Thus over nearly half of all India there
is famine. the sufferers from which num-
Der fully one-siXth OF the whole population
Of the Empire. The American people can
al best feed but a comparatively small por
tion Of the starving host. and to help even
this much, the help Of every man. wo-
man. and child in this country is needed.
The chief } elief measures which tha Brit
ish Government has put in force are:
First. relief works where tens OF thou
sands Of people are employed. such as
making common roads railroad embank-
ments and improving the irrigation OF the
country The thousands Of men women.
and children in these relief camps are paid
from to 4 cents day just enough to
keep body and soul together. but not /
enough to tempt anyone away from his /
legitimate work. The second relief meas /
ure on the part Of the Government is pro- I
viding kitchens. or headquarters. for free /
supplies Of food for children and for all /
adults who are too weak to work. Some 1
Of the practical applications Of the Gov /
ernment's principle Of helping without 4
pauperizing are as follows. Opening Of /
grain depots where corn is sold at cost /
price This helps to feed the hungry and 4
at the same time keeps down the price Of /
grain. The latter fact is important as IL (
serves TO check the avarice Of the native /
grain dealers hunniahs. as they are called, /
who. in time Of famine. try TO run up the |
price Of grain TO an eXOTbitant figure. /
The Government practices another help ]
fui form Of relief in buying all the products /
of the toll CT all who can work at prices 1
sufficient 10 support them and thus keep
them at their work. Thousands OF hand
looms are in this way kept in operation.
Thus what is. known as the Government
Famine Code is now giving employment TO
FIVE million people
As many as POSSIBLE of the remaining
g. 100000 famine sufferers must be cared
Tor by other nations than England. And
the work OF distributing food purchased
with The money sent from hose other ma
lions. which practically means only Amer
lea devolves upon missionaries. With
Bombay as headquarters. relief trains viii |
be despatched to all the missionary sta
iions in the famine area.
Christians Among the Starving.
Besides the millions OF Mahometans and
Hirdus. known in common yernacular as
'hestheus The miss onaries report that
fully $4,000 Christian people are also in /
urgent need The Mothodists report . 900
Christians within their lines alone The
Hindus and Mshometans who thus turned
Christians had 10 be content with ostra-
cism from their own people. and thus these
people who have accepted Christianity.
have double claim upon Americans
claim OF brotherhood added to the claim
Of common humanity.
Sor are all the sufferers from he pres
ems scarcity Of food. recruited from the
lower castles. or from what would De
known in this country as the masses.
Thousands Of those who are starving al
desih's door are high caste. people who a
few months ago owned their own houses,