New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-10
IN AID OF IRELAND
An Appeal to Americans for Relief Of the
Prevailing Distress.
10 The EDITOR Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: On Saturday, June 10, the commit
tees in charge OF the fund being raised for
the relief Of the prevailing distress in Ire
land will appeal TO the American people Tor
aid. This appeal will undoubtedly meet with
generous response additionally American,
regardless Of the sympathies Of the peopls
toward the warning nations in Europe u "
an interesting fact, and one that IS not known
to many, that the people OF Ireland 2iO years
ago sent relief TO the Pilgrim Fathers in
time of distress and need, resulting from the
Indian war
King Philips War was brief, but II had it'
havocs and terrors which several historians
have tried 20 describe. The flower Of the
New England colonies fell in battle or wers
murdered by the Indians, very often under
circumstances OF the most revolving cruelty.
Many towns in Massachusetts, Connecticu,
and Rhode Island we're laid in ashes; crops
we're RACED and cattle destroyed and numer-
Gus non-combatants fell victims 20 tho
bloody and devastating raids OF the savage
hordes. In these times OF distress ana
misery the people Of Ireland promptly cane
to the relief of the American sufferers, which
event is known in history as The Irish Dona'
ton" and il is a remarkable fact also tnat
no other country in Europe came 20 the
rescue Of the famished coonists The snip
Katherine. which brought the relief sailed
from Dublin for Boston on or about August
II. 1876 The extent or value Of the consisn-
ment is uncertain, but from the fact that the
81 1u~r
Of -four hundred and fifty pounds sterling
and that a committee OF three men was sen,
out with it from Dublin, 1t may be assumed
that it was liberal in the extreme.
In Massachusetts, and Connecticut records
may be seen references TO a controversy
which arose between the Colonial officials re-
garding what each deemed was It's proper
share in the Irish Charity" The Council OF
Massachusetts, in letter 20 Connecticut
dated January 4, 1877. reported that "ovp
families, consisting of 2265 persons, were IN
distress in the several towns of the colony,
and they called upon Connecticut "for SINH
lar account" so that I'VE may proportion
what is divisible among u.s. The irish com
mittee being located at Boston, Conneeilev'
replied 70 Massachusetts, on February -
1917, demanding that the latter send them
"our proportion of the Irish Charity and IN
the Colonial records may be read many let
ters on the subject passing between the Two
sister colonies. Toward the close, however
Connecticut relinquished her share, saying
God has given supplies TO our people, so wa
remit to you our right in the Irish Charity
and at a session of the General Court OF
Connecticut in May, 1877, this act was re-
corded: "The court upon good reason NOV
ing them do remit their part OF the lrisn
Charity 20 the distressed persons in the
Massachusetts, and Plymouth colonies u
is further recorded that from "The Irish DO.
nation" in Massachusetts alone, exclusive OF
Boston. az towns, so families, 2.35l persons
IN ALL were succored
Thus did Ireland manifest her sympathy
toward American distress 240 years ago 80
that the contributions Of the American peo-
pie to-day will be but return OF that gen
erous action and will prove a yerlhcauon OF
the Scripture: Cast thy bread upon the
waters, for thou shalt find IL after many
DAYS" NJ J. OBRlEN.
New York, June 8. 1915.