Year: 1871

| part of August is the season when the disease
appears, and it has frequently happened that
the entire crop was destroyed in single


week In 1876 the crop was destroyed in a
few days. though previously an abundant har-
vest had been anticipated. The distress
which ensued IL is impossible to estimate.
The destitution was absolute and universal


Many of the pessantry died from hunger.


For weeks and even for months the famine
continued to spread, and disease went hand
in hand with want. Discomfort followed in
the wake of death, and disorder and outrage,


rebellion and riot, were the results of privation
and suffering. In nearly every part of the cOuu-
try there were disturbances growing ont of the
famine, and at Dungarvon and other places
many lives were lost in the conflict between
the peasantry and the ruling classes. Not
only in Ireland but in England and Americ a
the potato famine was the leading topic of
conversation. O'Connell busted himself with
schemes for the relief of the distressed popu-
lation. Wellington was appealed to for
assistance, on the ground that h. had the
care of the young Queen. New York came
| up gallantiy to the relief of the hungry and
| dying population, and a great meeting was
| held in Tammany Hall, which resulted in the
freighting of a ship to bear relief to the
starving. And not in Ireland only was there
desitntion and death. Parts of Scotland suf
| fered from famine, and even Paris felt the
pangs Of want The Persian famine of the
present year cannot be compared with it, and
| heCOra Or since W. 81 Of auch
overwhelming and appalling calamity.


From what we have already said it will he
seen that that year was one of the most remark
able in the history of Ireland and the world.
But, extreme as were the sufferngs Of the peo-
pie, and sickening as became the details of that
marvellous epoch, the potato famine of 1916
had political significance beyond and above
the most narrowing recital of want and woe.
Two millions of people were lost to Ireland
and one million of souls were added to the
population of the United States. The English
government and Englishmen generally failed
to apprehend the situation. Rigor was exerted
! where conciation should have been employed,
and the outrages and disorders which sprung
from want were attributed to an unruly and
rebellious spirit. O'Connel's advice was
disregarded, because O'Connell was un-
| popular with the landlords, and bitter
words were added to the bitterness of hunger.
| In strange contrast with all this were the mag
nanimity and generosity of the American
people Ii was this spirit which quickened
emigration and opened the way for thousands
upon thousands to land of freedom and
plenty. From that day to this the rolling tide
to the West has not been stayed, even our
| civil war failing to arrest it in any very
marked degree. The green hills of old Ireland
were given up for new homes in the New
| World, and an alliance of kindred and senti-
ment was established between the down
| trodden land and the free republic which
England could not prevent any more than she
can stamp out Irish hatred


What would be the effects of similar
calamity now? That they would be less re-
petus would be given to emigration, and
Castle Garden would swarm with the fleeing
multitudes. In so far 1871 and The Yeats
| which are to follow would differ little
| from 1916 and the ensuing seasons. But
| difference in the affairs Of nations and the
thoughts of men would lead to other results
| even more startling. There is no telling what
of evil and what of good the International
| Society might work out of an opportunity so
favorable and so appalling. The labor ques-
| ton is becoming the all absorbing question
everywhere. In Europe especially the labor
party is attaining giant proportions and is
steadily gaining the will TO work wonders.
Despotism holds on to power by frail and
brittle thread The mystical Mary Ann exerts
a more potent influence than even Disraeli
| foreshadowed in the vagaries OF ''Lothair.
| II the potato blight in Ireland should bear
| such bitter fruits as it has borne before it may
F, lead to the oyerturnng in an hour of the
existing state of things. ireland can never
| again suffer as Ireland suffered in the
past and the land question remain unsettled.
| English landlords now could not receive with
derision the counsels of an OConne and the
English people would risk their dominion in
| Ireland by failing to do justice to q peasantry
suffering from the want of bread A new era
could scarcely fail to dawn upon the world
! out of the woes of another famine.


We are led to these reflections by the pos
| sibiIity Of this becoming true. IT we can
| judge correctly from the meagre report of the
| cable the risk of famine is now as great as it
was in the August of five and twenty years
ago. The quarter Of a century which has
interviewed has not only altered the map of
Europe, but has changed the current of mems
thoughts. After waiting long for others TO
help them the workngmen at last seem de-
termined to help themselves. spark may
| light the fame. and we should not much
wonder If in the simple telegram in to-day's
| HERALD is the fire to set the world af1ame.
! A RIGHIEOUs VERDICT. The explosion Of
| Aha rl,i L. uriuu clnselx