The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-21
The Famine In China.

1t is almost impossible for the PEG,
pie of the United States to imagine
conditions of famine such as now pre-
walls over large districts of the more
populous regions of China. Disastrous
floods devastated the country for hun
dreds of miles in central China and
in certain coast districts resulting in
a vast population, estimated at not less
than 100000, being left without any
means of subsistence. In case Of an
Iordinary flood, covering only limited
area, the people simply take the road
Ito the southwark and live by begging
until the next spring when they grav-
iitate back to their native regions and
make another try for a crop. But in a
case like this, the numbers are so
great and the famine stricken region
$50 great in extent that treking offers
mo hope of escape.
Il The people were able to exc out a
tprecarious existence by eating what
lever of an edible nature was within
their reach; often including the leaves,
; bark and roots of ordinary trees.
! When the food supply fails, the
weaker ones go first and the more TO.
bust yield more slowly to the raw
ages of the most awful disease that
; can befall humanity starvation.
1t is said that before giving up,
some will even go to the extreme OF
feeding on the flesh of those already
dead; and the experiences of the siege
of Jerusalem have doubtless been re-
peated many times.
Now their is reason to believe that
these oft recurring famines could be
Ito large degree provided against by
proper attention to engineering inn
lprovements in the way of bikes, canals
etc. and therefore someone is serious
illy to blame for not taking such meas,
lures as we've necessary
But mere denunciation of the men
who failed to protect these people
from calamity Is not going to bring
relief to those who are starving !,
is food they want and must have il
soon If death Is to be averted.
OF course no one will deny the fact
that the people of this country have
already been very liberal In their re
Spouse to the repeated calls for hell
which have come SO often of late
from the densely populated countries
of Asia And some may even feel tha
1T is not right to expect them to con
tribute again and again for such
purpose.
But the appeals this time are no
based merely on the awful needs o
the perishing millions of our fellow
human beings, strong as that is IL
view of our comparative luxury with
crop last year valued over SIS, 000, 900, 90
but for the past in the history Of fam
inc relief, the money given is to b.
used fer work of a preventative ma
ture under the direction Of compe
tent American engineer, under TIL
direction of the Red Cross society
who has spent many months making
careful study of the flooded districts
Or if not, for the relief of the loca
famine involving some $4,000 peopl
in the Yu Yus district near MiDgpC
they will be used in similar wa
under the direction of a competen
organization of which the missionar
of that district and some of the ne
tive pastors are members. Anothe
point of great significance is the fac
that China, modelling after our govern
ment, has just established a republic
Any help which we, as a people
may extend to her starving multitude
at this time cannot fail to be of gres
influence in confirming and increasin
the friendship which in days to com
will mean so much to both thes
mighty republics which occupy tb
eastern and western shores of th
Pacific.
1t is to be hoped that the peopl
will again respond literally to til
call for help sent ont by the governor
of all the states at the suggestion {
President Taft
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