The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-20
ENGLAND AND HER FAMINE SUI
EERERS.

A speaker at the Tomlinson Hall meeting
on ST. Patrick's day made statements in
tended to show the heartlessness and
cruelty of the British government towards
its famine sufferers. The cases cited were
Ireland and India. On the memorable Irish
famine of 1916 the speaker said:
When this horrible famine occurred the
world was shocked ana all peoples, even
barbarous Turkey, in a hot rush of sympa-
thy, sent generous contributions to stricken
Ireland. But her late Majesty's govern
ment did nothing. The English government
did not raise it's Infamous hand. 1t took no
measure calculated 10 relieve its wretched
subjects, wretched and starving because Of
the infamous political and agrarian policies
it had pursued toward them.
Referring to the recent famine in India
the speaker said:
Millions have died in India. not from
plague. fever or disease, but from sheer
lack of food, from the gnawing pa1Ss of
hunger. Think of it for a moment. Photo
graphs nave been displayed all over this
country of the gaunt, starved figures of his
Majesty's Indian subjects-figures that cut
your heart ~ their misery, pictures of
women and children that beg for your
charity out of their silent, sunken eyes; and
America. generous America. has gone to
their relief. Has the English government
done anything? No; il has been too busy
In south Africa.
Public speakers who address large audi
ences, whose prejudices and passions are
too easily excited, should try and be accu-
rate in their statements. In this case the
speaker was grossly inaccurate. First as
to the famine i'm Ireland, the implication
that it was in any measure due to 1.-The in
famous political and agrarian policy" of
England is without any foundation in fact.
1t was wholly and entirely due TO two sue
cessive failures of the potato crop. No his
torian and no writer with a regard for facts
has ever ascribed it to any other cause. The
situation was aggravated by the fact that
the population of Ireland had increased out
of all proportion to the means of subsist-
ence, and even the potato crop was waste
fully harvested and handled But when the
extent of the suffering became known the
British government and people Gid all in
their power TO relieve Ii. The first attempt
on the part OF the government was to af-
ford relief by extensive public works in
draining, road-making, etc.. This, though
we'll intended, was only partially success
full, and personal relief was resorted to. a
reliable historian says:
In July, 1S47. as many as three millions of
persons were actually receiving separate
rations. A loan Of $4,000. 600 (Si0. zoo, 1000 was
contracted by the government expressly to
supply such wants, and every step was
taken by two successive administrations,
Sir Robert Peels and Lord John Russell's,
to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Nor was private beneVolence lacking. y
British association was formed for the re-
lief of Ireland. a Queens letter was is
sued. Subscriptions were received from al
most every quarter of the world. The
Queens letter alone produced 1851 .665. The
British association collected $l.315. 600; the
Society of Friends $215,000 and $4,000 more
were sent TO the Dublin Society of Friends.
The Queen gave $50. 900 and $500 more to
the clothing fund. Prince Albert gave 81
500. The National Club collected $S9,65O.
Contemporary accounts state that in
March, 1S47, no less than $4,000 persons
were employed on government works. and a
little later 100000 rations were distributed
daily. That there was great suffering is
undoubtedly true; but the charge that the
British government made no effort to re-
lieve it is far from true.
The speakers statement regarding the
famine of 1897 in India is equally inaccu-
rate. This famine was more extensive and
the measures of relief more liberal than in
the other case. By the cooperation Of the
British and the British-Indian governments
large sums were expended in public works,
such as building roads. leveling hills, filling
up rsvines, making public parks, canals.
tanks. etc. Rations We're distributed on a
vast scale. About March J.. 1897, the viceroy
Of India reported S.14l. 600 receiving relief.
In the middle of May the number was 3.60S.-
600. In June il reached 100000 and later
it reached 5000. 600. in addition to large ap-
propriations by the Anglo-Indian govern
ment the British Parliament ordered a loan
of $50. 900. 600 to India, part of which was to
be held as a anime reserve fund. Personal
relief continued to be extended through
1899. at the close of which year 2.5OO.O0 per-
sons were reported as receiving relief at the
hands of the government. During this pc
riod private contributions from the British
people were very large. The lord mayors
committee of London alone collected and
sept to India s.. 10000. and other very large
contributions were made.
\ mere statement of these facts shows
how the truth Of history is sometimes
either willfully or recklessly perverted Ia
bolster an argument or make out a case.
The British government may nave its
faults. but it does not allow its people TO
perish by famine without trying to aid
them any more than the United States gov
eminent does.
Some one has discovered that Judge w