The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 104, 17 October 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1877.

The three scourged of man— War, Famine, and Pestilence — are now at work m the world. While the legions of Russia and Turkey are falling beneath the sword, famine, and Pestilence that ever follows m the wake of famine, are doing their terrible work m Inflia. The tragedy that is now being enacted m Europe is sufficiently dreadful. The mind that can vividly picture the seething masses of humanity arrayed against each other m a series of death struggles each one of which creates a cemetery of dead and peoples the lazar houses with thousands of tortured wretches — the mind that can picture this must needs he sated with horror. Yet there are realities more terrible still m this world of tragedy. In lower India there is at this time a picture of human woe of such surpassing magnitude that even the mind of the tutored mathematician must pall m its endeavour to grasp the mere outlines. The ever unfortunate sons and daughters of India are now dying by millions of starvation. We talk of millions, but how few of us can realise the magnitude of a million. When we attempt to place it before us m units the mind falls back m bewilderment. Yet thirty millions of our fellow creatures are now visited by famine and it is expected that a number equal to about seven times the population of New Zealand will die of starvation. We are not aware that any appeal has been made to this Manawatu districfrfor co-opera-tion m the famine relief movement. Yet what appeal can be so strong as a knowledge of the facts of the the case. The verdict of a Coroner's . Jury- "died of starvation " invariably sends a thrill of horror through /the* community m which the case occurs, and there-is scarcely one person m this or any other community, so hard as to refuse charity m any given , case if he knows that the certain result of his refusal will be the death of a fellow creature. But let us apply these truths to the case now under consideration. The starvation going on among the teeming millions of India is not less real and terrible because far removed from our sight, and such assistance as we may give will not be less effective m saving life because we cannot see it applied. An op-

portunity is now offered to us of | stretching out the hand of charity j to creatures who are m the direst extremity. . Let every individual member of this community consider that upon his decision to aid or not to aid hangs the life of a fellowcreature, and that his decision will have just as certain an effect for life or for death m this case as if it were exercised m the ease of some starving wanderer found upon his doorstep. Let us free ourselves from the stigma that will rest upon us if we do not join m the humane efforts that are going on around. No appeal has been made to us from outside, but this fact gives us opportunity for the merit of a purely voluntary effort. If Palmerston, Foxton, Feilding and Sandon each forms a committee to raise famine relief subscriptions we have not the slightest doubt that a handsome sum. will be raised which will result m the saving of many lives. Subscriptions have been raised all through great Britain and the charitable movement is" extending throughout the colonies, but the requirements are so large and pressing that every available penny-piece has its work to do, and no time should be lost m contributing it. We are well aware that m this place the subscription list frequently goes round for some purpose or other, and people sometimes become impatient of the frequent calls made upon their resources. Yet the bear- % ing of each other's burthens is not only a christian precept but a social one, and the community m which it is not practised is socially and morally unhealthy. We make these remarks rather as a, stimulous against that " weariness of well doing " that there is danger of than because any slackness has been so far manifested by this community m responding to charitable calls. We trust that on this occasion the generous spirit of . the district will be put to the test. As far as the Borough itself is concerned it would be gracious on the part of the Council to take the initiative as other Borough Councils are doing and call a public meeting. A committee could then be elected and the work of charity commence at once. Few. we believe, would fail to tender the " Cup of cold water " m that form which is most desirable.