The Irish standard., 1890-03-15
Fac IRIsa ~ 1lIyzKD. st NARCH u.


the late Matthew Arnold. who filled the
chair of poetry Oxford University,
gaveit as his belief that from Celtic
source sprung the style and natural
magic of English poetry and romance,
and there are also good reasons and
authority for believing that rhyme pro
ceeded from similar source
4 A variety Of causes are sponsible for
the decay of the Irish language, though
the one grand and exciting cause. no
doubt. has been the Norman-Anglo
conquest OF Ireland. Hereupon fol-
lowed the prescription Of Irish. BY
statute under Edward III and Henry
VIII, the enactment Of the penal laws.
solely aimed against Catholics, who all
spoke the native language. Irish was
never accorded any official recognition;
cases of law we're not tried in it; it
was excluded from the schools, and
there were no books or newspapers
printed in Irish. It was the language
Of the poor aud d0wntrodden. who
were hardly permitted to exist under
the cruel tyrrany and exactions of
their oppressors, much less to have
time to devote themselves to the liter
airy development and cultivation OF
their native language. Under such
conditions, no wonder it has wasted
with swift decay. The really great
wonder is that it has survived down to
the present day, amidst such dire per
secution aud lack of every encourage
ment.
Language has always been regarded
az distinctive sign of nationality.
Irishmen who speak English, are view.
ed by foreigners as Englishmen. Hence
it is that we hear of Irishmen like Gold
smlth, Burke, Moore, and other men OF
the Irish race, styled British authors;
and even this country. through use OF
the English language is often spoke OF
as part of the Anglo Saxon race,
though tits made upas every one knows,
of many different races. This IS one OF
the oddities of language. Mr.. Douglass
HYDE, a leading educationist Of Ireland,
and who bears the reputation Of being
the foremost Gaelic poet OF the age.
speaking of the subject of the Irish
language, declares that the loss of the
Irish language has worked a positive
injury to the Irish people. and that if
the Irish language, one Of the finest
languages as he affirms in Europe, and
which was spoken fifty years ago by
u awards Of four millions of people. is
permitted to die out IN Ireland, it will
be lasting disgrace to the natlou
The Germans are intense lovers of
their language. and they make the
German tongue co extensive with
German nationality. The following
lines from the German national hymn
very forcibly and eloquentlY gives ex-
preston to this sentiment:
t.Was ist des Detschen Vaterland?
So welt de Deusche Zunge klngt,
Und Colt i'm Himmel Lieder sings,
Das soil est se1n, das soil est sein!
What Ia the Germ. an Fatherland?
Wherever sounds the German tongue,
And sings praises to God in Heaven,
| That Shall it be- that shall it be! .
ochiegel, thu eminent German critic,
has given currency to the saying that
the care Of the national language Is i
sacred trust.
Thymas Davis SAYS that the Ian
guage OF nations youth is the only
aud easy and full speech Tor it's man
hood and for its age. and when the
language OF its cradle goes, itself Graves
tomb.
At the present time there is more
interest taken Ill the study Of Irish in
this country than in Ireland. Irish
! classes have been formed. and with
gratifying success. in nearly all the
large cities-New York, Brooklyn,
Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and
San Francisco. There are Two mouth
ly papers published III the interest vi
the language--the Gae +, Of Brooklyn,
and the Echo, OF Boston. They are for
the most part printed in Geelc. Both
! have wide circulation A movement
is already being agitated i'll iavur OF
! endowiug all Irish or Celtic professor
SHIP in the new Catholic University.
! Bishop keau, the rector, has been COIN
municaled with On the subject, with
his favorable consideration. Nothing
stands III the way Ut the movement
assuming a practica! form II !. sutticien.
sum Of money Is once secured. Aud il
| would seen that in this great country
where the Irish race makes SO large aud
respectable figure, and as they are
also much interested III the new Uni
! yersity, that any serious difficulty
should be experienced in carrying out
fully project If this kind, especially
| when it is one SO pre-eminently fitted
to reflect the highest honor and Inspect
on them as a people
Here. Indeed, Is a splendid oppor