The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-21
sHAT REV. FATHER HENRY HAS TO SAY.

BBAT REV. FATHER HENRY HAS TO SAY.
From the St. Louis Globe Democrat,
Rev. James Henry, the Pastor of Saint Law
rsnos O'Toole's Church, who was so active in
fnrthering the interests of the Irish Language
party, and was probably the most conspicuous
among those who were and are still anxious to
have Il introd oed into the public schools. has
the Hrst attempt. He Is still nRuine of suo-
eess and believes that the language Of the
Emerald Isle has as muoh right In the euFFi-
cnlum of public school studies as the German
or any other language, and, il one is continued,
there ie no reason in the world why the others
should not be introduced. This was about
the gist of an interview which q Globe Demo
eTGt reporter had the other day with Father
Henry. but the con versation WAS of such an iu-
sefesting nature and 30 abundant IN arguments
10 favor of the Celtic tongue, and the reason
why the rising and future generations should
Nave knowledge of it, that 1t will bear repe-
sit.on.
The Globe Democrat reporter, who had an idea
shat the suggestion of the addition of the Irish
language was :, sort OF huge C Joke Joke asked
tsd in any hope that it would be fsvorably
looked upon, and IL, now that the School
Board had decided adversely to il, there would
spiritf
'Yes, indeed" said the reverend gentleman,
answering the latter part of the question first;
Ave haven't quite given mp the struggle, and
wo hopo ultimately TO find our efforts crowned
with success. feel oertain that the Board of
Public School Managers will SEQ the necessity
Of reoonsidering the action they have taken,
and tbAt We will have Irish and every other
language taught in our sob ools before long.
Hhe fact is, the petition that was presented TO
the School Board, signed by some seventy per.
0ons, waR lit. timed There WAS 10 intention of
presenting it until several Thousand names had
been attached, and then 1t would have come
with more force"
Tho reporter suGgested that there were the
Bames OF some very peculiar sort of people
signed to the document.
"Xes," said the Father, "some of the names
h. gero calculated to bring ridioule upon the
Znoy yaraent, and it was unfortunate that they
Var1 allowed TO have anything TO do with 1t,
X5at we have q petition in circulation now to
which over 3 600 reputable names will be sign
ri, and when this is done we will be prepared
70 mako another appeal to the School Board /,
asking them that tho mother tongue of 8 peo-
PIE who constitute q great part OF our popui0-
1Son be Perpetuated."
care you in favor of keeping German in the
public schools Father =
"Of course i am. It's our only hope. II they
throw German ont of the studies, we can not
expect them to teach Irish but If they retain
Ehe German 1t is our intention to see that the
Irish is also taught"
"But they viii hardly listen to your de.
DAnds1"
"Why, my dear sir. are you aware that an
IDSunction could now be served upon them to
pEevent instructions being given in Ger
man ~
The reporter WAC unable to understand the
RoEsibility of such q courSe having any legal OF
ether sanction.
"The Consultation Of the United States, j." con
Sinued Father Henry, expressly forbds dis
GziminAtion in favor of any ctsss OF party, and
what is teaching the German language, while
0theE languages are excluded, bat discrmin AT
ing in favor Of that nationality 1t is infrin z
ing the Constitution, and i feel almost certain
that II an Injunction we're served the German
would have to stop altogether. WhSt righ
Aas German child to be taught its lHnguag,
when other children grow up in entire igno
rance of their pnronts' national fauguagef Il
is just eqnivsl to having the German chill
say to the French or Bohemian child, My Ian
Ensge is better than yours. for if it wBGn't VIII!
would they be teaching il at the expense o
youT father and every other property owner
while yours is not tau ght at aiif Ifthey do no
aay this they must certainly come to realiZe /
n time, just as every grown person does nov
the Injustice Of retaining one language to th
GEclusIon of all othere.n
"TheD you have hopes of one day having Iris
m the schooisf"
"Yes, sir, think orr purpose will be accom-
Plished when the School Directors come to con
atder the matter in its proper light"
"But q knowledge of the language will d
ahs children no special good, ns 1t is not ger
oIAiiy spokenT
Shat is just what We would hRve-to make til
ThsinE generation, and especially the ohitdre
Of IFiBh pArentS-knoW some thing about tn
language. How many of our Irish America
children know anything about the Ceiti
ts0guef Very few. Bat there are, thank Coz
some of them in our midst whose fathers an
Dothers have taught them, and who speak
very WE'LL using no other Language in conve
sAtion with their parents when ~ nome" "Tt
Irish language Father Henry remarked in
S1saAl sort of way, ''is the only langusG
which is correctly spoken by people without
haoWIedge of its grammar"
"Ie IL very difioutT"
''Eo more 30 than the German or the Lat
. Greek. 1t 10 o gutterat language like II
sezman, bnt is more expressive and mo-
ASautiful."
"WhRt other good would be derived from
kEowledge Of IL save itB perpetuatiop 7"
st would afford key to the Oriental Ia
GRRgeS. Scholars who have studied it 6u