Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-01-21
Save the Perishing People of Finland !

Inc widespread famine OF Finland
is appealing to the people of Ameri-
ca, and much is being done here to
relieve the suffering of the unfor-
Inmates OF that country. The follow
ing article from 'Skandinaven'' is
written in connection with letter
from Finland describing the situation
and has been handed to us for publica-
tion. 1t seems to us that out of the
fullness of our prosperity and happi-
laess we should contribute literally to
the relief of so great misfortune and
suffering. Contributions will be re-
ceived by the ladies of the First
Lutheran Church.
Last year the crops of Finland
were a total failure, aud starvation
has now begun its fell harvest among
the stricken people.
The famine in Finland is the most
severe in a century. A late spring
followed by unprecedented rains and
early frosts destroyed the crops almost
completely. Grains, hay, peas,
beans, potatoes and other vegetables
rotted in the ground. The people of
many of the northern provinces were
left entirely destitute to face the ap-
preaching winter. Bread of unripe
grain, husks, straw, and bark was
their only means of sustaining life.
No pen can describe their suffering.
In the great Finnish famine of 1867
one hundred thousand people died
from starvation. According to re-
ports from reliable sources, four
hundred thousand people, or one
sixth of the population of Finland,
will die from hunger this winter I'M
less prompt aid is extended to them.
Russia has her own starving mil
lions to take care of, and can do but
very little for Finland. But we are
assured that the Finnish department
of the imperial government accepts
gratefully America aid The appeal
to America will not be in vain.
There is no people to-day more worthy
of the sympathy and succor of the
| Christian world than the destitute
people of Finland. Their virtues,
fortitude and heroism CLEAN through
the sad gloom of Finnish history as
one of the precious heirlooms of all
mankind. But never before have the
brave people faced crisis like the
present The letter from a Finnish
minister printed on this page reveals
the sad fate of this most unhappy of
all peoples, in all it's horrors. Bereft
of the staff of life and denied the
right of free speech they are doomed
to suffer and die in silence.
| But their stifled cry of distress has
reached the American people and
touched the American heart. Let the
work of Finnish relief be properly
and promptly organized, and money
and food will pour forth from our
cities, workshops and farms Let
the bankers, business men, and rail-
road men of Chicago take the matter
in hand, ana the people of the west
and northwest will respond with
generous contributions. Let the rail
roads furnish cars, and the farmers
will load them with grain from their
bounteous crops; the mills of Mime
apolis, Duluth and Superior will
supply flour; and the large packing
houses of Chicago. Omaha and Kan
sas City will contribute provisions in
abundance. Let the precious gifts be
hurried to rhe seaboard and further
across the sea to relieve the perishing
people. America has come to the
help of starving people in India and
Russia with cargoes of food. Let
her do the same for the stricken
people of Finland And let action be
taken at once for the long ffering,
heroic Finlanders are perishing the
very heart of the Finnish nation is
dying from hunger and cold in the
grasp of a fierce winter. -