The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-16
THE IRISH LANGUAGE.

THE IRISH LANGUAGE.
Summer is gone, and the long even
ings are coming. We trust, there
fore that this winter will be even NOR
) prolific of Irish classes than last white
was, although we are happy to say
good many classes were formed, no
only in Dublin. bat in the country
Every town and village il Irelan'
shouls. have an Irish class this winter
seeing how many new ones were got vi
during the past eight OF nine months:
There are, however.two great difficult
ties cnnnected with the popular study o.
the Irish language, aud these are-first
want Of cheap elementary books, anc
secondly, want of teachers. The want
OF cheap primers and reading books in
the Irish is infinitely a greater want than
that OF MASTERS; for hundreds ofd sour
youth would be able to teach themselves
The rudiments of the language ii they
only had the proper books, and if they
were cheap enough to be within the
reach OF all save the very poor. Even
in those parts Of the country where our
language has long ceased to live, the
popular interest in it is as great, and
perhaps in some cases even greater, than
where it is Still! spoken. 1t cur youth
had elementary books at price and of
a sort as the youth OF all other countries
possess in their native tongues. there
can be little doubt but the Irish language
would, in tew1generations, or perhaps
in a few years occupy prominent place
ia the thoughts and in the hearts OF the
people otIreland. But it no publisher
can be found either patriotic enough or
enierprising enough to bring out cheap
educational books in Gaelic, and if our
so-called Nationcl School directors and
teachers have neither the heart ;or the
backbone to agitate tor its being taught
in the institutions over which they are
placed, let us see if, in spite of "apathy
10 Office" clerical lukewarmness, and
government opposition, way may not
be open tor our truly patriotic country
men to stereotype, or rather to Telegraph
their language in such manner as that
little short OF an earthquake can destroy
it. Ii neither National Schools, nor
Christian Brothers Schools. nor private
schools will allow our language to be
Taught; il, as it seems, i'm internal con-
splracy has been tacitly formed by these
in Ireland who possess wealth, power,
and what they call respectability to let
the language die-then as protest
against them, let the patriot heEceforlh
use the Irish language in recording the
deaths OF his kindred. II it is to die no
place is filter tor it than q churchyard |
ii it is to live no place will preserve it |
better than a monument .OHere there is a |
plan for popularizing our language and
it is strange that so few have adopted it. |
There are only two inscriptions in Irish
in Glasnevin Cemetery. and very few in
any modern burial ground in Ireland.
1t is only in very ancient churchyards
that we find Irish inscriptions; many
that should be in Irish are in Latin.
1t is to be fervcntly hoped that this
Idea about using our own language on
the tombstones will in future be carried
out by rs many lrishmen rs possible.
The difference in expense between in
IN Irish and in English would
De only triiling. 1t would not be nee,
essary to use the old Celtic characters,
Tor the Irish language; can be as corr
rectly written in Latin letters As in any
other. 1t would be perhaps. preferable
10 employ the Irish character but the en-
craving OF them. on stone mighl from
the unfortunate TACT eft their being so
little used. be slightly more expensive
than that OF Latin. or rs there are some-
times incorrectly called English letters
Ii those wishing to have an inscription
Or epitaph in the old tongue over the res
mains OF relation or friend should be IN
able to compose it themselves. there are
plenty OF gentlemen in Dublin who
wonld be most happy to undertake the
into Irish of any short record
last resting places would be rendered ali
the more saEtitied by being shown forth
in the language OF Erin.
1t may not DE generally known to our
readers that the Highland Scotch have.
within the past few years, raised over
eight thousand pounds for establishing q
Celtic chair in Edinburgh; Professor
Blackle wants few thousand more, and
he will get them by simply asking for
them. When would Professor Buckle
or any other professor get eigh. or ten
thousand pounds in Ireland to establish
an Irish chair in Dublin? Our cheeks
burn red with shame as we ask the qpes-
tion. knowing how useless it would be
in the present state OF public opinion in
Ireland to undertake such q scheme.
How is it that inspite of almost every
political movement such IS Repeal,
Home Rule. and parliamentary agita-
lion generally we are becoming day by
day less Irish and more English in our
manners. HABITS, and languages Isit
hat we have not backbone enough in US
% build up nation, or that we have
been misled by those whom we have
trusted? The question must remain un-
at present; but ii we lose our
native language posterity will surely
say that no conquerer could kill . ma
ions honored tongue. except helped by
he apathy or slavishness OF those who
we're content to let it die.-Du5sin Irish
plds.
INDIA, LIKE AMERICA. LADEN DOWN 6Y
AFRAOuLENT ENGLISH DEBT.