Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-02
Maude Come Says Dire Distress
Exists In Many Parts Of
the Emerald Isle
POTATO CROP ALMOST FAILURE
West Portion Said to be Face to Face
With Most Serious situation-Peo-
Pile Poverty Stricken and in Desper-
ate condition-Enslish Government
Scored.

Chicago, Jan. 2.-The west OF Ireland
is on the verge Of a famine. There can
be no doubt that distress, In many
places amounting to famine. exists at
present thruout the west Of Ireland. BY
the end Of January hundreds Of people
will be dying Of starvation, II speedy
and strenuous measures are not taken
for their relief. Already thousands are.
existing on one meal day consisting
of plat of Indian meal stirabout or
tea, often without milk, and dry bread.
The English government does not
wish to prevent famine in Ireland. 1t
forms part Of it's system Of government.
1t will do nothing to save the people
unless forced to do SO by the pressure
Of public opinion abroad, or by the
desperate resolve of the people them
selves to seize food by force, and men
weak fro mwant Of food are not often
capable of such desperate and courag-
eOus actions.
The Irish papers have columns every
day describing the painful condition OF
the people and the English papers cor
roborate them fully. The London Globe
tween so and so per cent below the ay-
erage
The correspondent OF the London
Express writes: THE west of Ireland
is face to face with the most serious
situation which has threatened that
poverty-stricken country since the dark
days that preceded the devastating
famine Of 1S47. A hundred thousand
people, as fine peasantry as ever
breathed. frank. hard working and
thrifty, are in a condition which is al-
most desperate"
The London Daily Mail corresponds
ent writes: There is q famine brew
ing in Connemara.'
The Daily Chronicle says: THE Foe
tato failure around Citizen is most
alarming. The outlook for Connemara
this winter is certainly black. AL
ready In places beyond Gorumma AMI
between Oughterard and the sea there
are no potatoes left, and, more, the
little stock can not last beyond the
beginning Of the year"
Yet the English government does
nothing. Boards Of guardians, district
and urban councils, clergymen, repre-
sentative men from the different coun-
ties, have all appealed IN vain 10 tne
foreign government that ruins our
country.
One clergyman at an important
meeting of clergy in the Clifden dis
trict to consider the best means OF cop
ing with the distress said in bitter
irony: Let them die and then sub
scribe to send the dead bodies to the
chief secretary. It Is only then that
Dublin castle will open its eyes to the
real condition Of the people"
It Is trrible to think that 1t the gov
ernn1ent had wished this present FAM
inc and all the horrible misery IT brings
with 1t might have been avoided ana
at but small cost Signs OF potato dis
ease were visiblesin many places last
wear and had provision been made for
enabling the people to get fresh, whole
some seed the present famine would
have been avoided.
Early in 1908 the Castlerea district
council appealed to the local govern-
ment board to enable 1t to Distribute
fresh seed to the people in the dis
trict. The local government board re-
piled that ut saw no necessity for doing