The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-09-30
To the Editor of The Irish Standard.

mark with satisfaction the new develop
ment of the movement to maintain and
perpetuate the old tongue, initiated by
DR.. Hyde and his Heterogeneous of the
Gaelic League. Hitherto the movement
has wanted neither energy, enthusiasm,
nor self sacrifice; but the result has
shown that ali these forces expended in
the old accustomed way have failed ut
terly to stem the decay of our national
speech. In 1881 the Irish speaking
population numbered close on 100000;
in 1881 the number had dwindled to less
than 100000. The intervening decade
was the period of greatest activity in the
movement to preserve the Irish Ian
gusge. The cause of failure is not far to
seek. Owing to the economic conditions
of the country, and to the rigorous regu-
lations Of the board Of National Educa-
tion," amounting in effect, as the statis-
tics prove, to an almost total proscrip'
ton of Gaelic in the national schools,
the educational work in the societies
reached In the main the middle class of
the population only, and failed to affect
the mass of the disappearing people in
any appreciable degree. There are thou
sands of Irish speakers who have never
heard of movement for the preserva-
ton of Irish. The inference from these
facts is one that oannet escape any think
ing person. In 1883, at the monster
meeting held in the Mansion House,
Dublin, under the auspices of the Gaelic
Union, before the untoward experience
have described had made the lesson
clearer, Mr. Michael Davitt suggested
to the then too hopeful supporters of the
cause the idea of a lecture movement.
His suggestion was passed by that time,
and it was not until about two years ago,
at meeting in New York city, that the
plan of popular crusade on behalf of
the Irish language was revived by DIR.
Douglas Hyde. Since then the idea has
la rgely occupied the minds Of earnest
alherents Of the Gaelic cause and has
further crystal zed itself in the forma-
ton of the Gaelic League, whose NOM
bers will carry the movement to the very
doors of the Irish speaking peasantry.
p ersons imagine that to speak Irish is a
mark of inferiority; but the object of the
Gaelic League should be to substitute
for this degrading feeling, so foreign to
the intellectual character of the Irish
Celt, just and natural pride in the pos
session of language which is at once
noble, powerful and beautiful in itself,
and the surest mark and best guarantee
of national existence. The Welsh have
made OF their language, once on the
verge Of extinction, means of the highest
mental culture and foremost factor in
their national life, constituting it at the
same time the ordinary means of inter-
courses throughout the principally. The
Scottish Gael has put bis foot down
firmly to assert his determination to be
Gaelic and Gaelic-speaking to the end,
and his national speech is consequently
strengthening it's position year by year.
The Flemish, who surrounded on every
side by vast populations speaking Lam
guages far ahead of their own, have
nevertheless resolutely and purposefully
stood by their native tongue, as though
on it their existence depended. The
situation OF the Irish language compared
to Flemish is one Of enormous advan-.
tage, spoken chiefly in the Western mari
tame counties, and from Tough Foyle to
Waterford harbor, it is still the language
of one-third Of the area Of Ireland, and
that third the most isolated from exter-
ternaI influences. / have no doubt but
the Gaelic League will have the support
of every Irishman Of intellect and patri-
otism in every part of the civilized world
until Ireland is as she ought to be, ma
ton
''Great, glorious and free. .#:ssz.. ~ 3
First flower of the earth and first gem Of the
sea-" .
! remain, Yours Respectfully ss1
FRANc1s J. F1pop, 4 3. RI.
HI ss