FAMINE IN IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 6, 11 February 1925, Page 34

FAMINE IN IRELAND

A few months ago it was rumored that the potato crop in some of the western districts of Ireland had failed to materialise in sufficient abundance to meet the needs of the people. The Irish papers, however, did not appear to regard the position as critical, as most of them did not refer to the matter at all. However, last week a cable appeared in the daily papers to the effect that the Free State Government had allocated £250,000 for relieving the conditions in the famine-stricken area. The people of Ireland are to be congratulated on the fact that they have now readied a stage of political and economic determinism when they have a Government that is able, and willing to devote so large a sum to the relief of distress in the country. Wo are assured by those in a position to know the mind and heart of Ireland that the Irish people feel that Ireland’s problems are I heir prohlemsoand theirs alone; and this statement is to a certain extent borne out by .the action of the free Stale Government in voting a. large sum of money for famine rebel purposes. II the problem becomes too great for the Irish people to handle by -themselves those in authority will not be slow to communicate with’ the friends of Ireland overseas, when, no doubt, greater Ireland will respond as generously as it did in the past. We are deeply sorry for the Irish people in this their latest trial, coming as it does upon the heels of that terror .from the (‘fleets of which the country will not recover for many years. lint while expressing our sympathy with them we must also respect Ilnur feelings. Ireland ,I eels that she is now a nation once again, and she wishes to enjoy the measure of independence for which she fought so strenuously. Just as she longed to he free from the tyranny of an outside Power because that Power usurped her functions and prevented her from exercising her rights and bearing her own responsibilities, so also does she now wish to he free from outside interference — even benevolent interferencein the settling of her internal social and economic problems. Ireland is not only a nation, she is a sensitive nation as well. There was a time when circumstances over which she had no control forced her to look to her wandering children ■for assistance, but that time is with her no longer. She now stands upon her own feet as a nation, independent and self-respecting. Wo believe that we can please her best by respecting her self-respect, and by refraining from throwing unsolicited alms into her lap. She was grateful for the assistance given in the old days, and still more grateful for the spirit in which it was given. Hut she asked assistance only that she might be placed in a position to Jieln herself, and it would be a kindly act to permit her to try, now that an opportunity is given her to show what she can do. If she finds the task too difficult and urgent for her immediate resources she will surely not hesii tate to tell us so. and, then we can offer our 1 help without hurting her feelings.

;.:v .• ■ 44. 7' I .found not in^ all my necessities a more [efficacious remedy than the wounds of Christ. —St. Augustine.