The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-06-05
Sagacloas Suggestions.
Editor Of the Irish standard.

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Sagacions Sngg esti0ns.
Editor Of the Irish standard.
The enthusiastic efforts Of the aggres-
; sive secretary Of Div. No. z, to-introduce
into the A. o. H. meetings features for
the education and edification Of its mem
bers, should meet with cordial re-
Spouse, and the hearty cooperation of
all the divisions in the city. have not
the least doubt that when they once in
corporate bis suggestions as part of their
business routine, they will readily per-
ceive the benefcent results which must
inevitably follow, both as to mental
training and increased membership.
The business of such organizations is,
to say the least, monotonous and dry,
and not of nature to edify, or to afford
opportunity to members to display their
latent abilities. It requires more in
teresting subject than monetary affairs,
which constitute the principal business
Of benevolent organizations, to draw out
the ready wit and eloquence Of the irish,
for which they are so Justly noted.
It would indeed be a source of deep
regret to permit those magnificent quail
tiles to lapse for want of subjects
through whose instrumentality they may
be manifested. We must, therefore, pro-
vide for their consideration and discus
sion questions which appeal to the ten
der fibres of the heart and the emotions
Of the soul.
There has never been a time in the
history of the world when deep research
and profundity of thought are so essen
tial as at the present day. Old ideals are
being constantly displaced by the new.
The philosopher of yesterday is the fool
of today. This sublunary planet is
quaking on it's axis, sureharged with the
electric fire of liberty that emanates
from the breasts Of its inhabitants and
urges them onward with an fmpetuous
force to the establishment of g higher
and grander civilization on the ruins of
despotism, tyranny. and depreciation.
If the acts of the Irish people in the
past can be taken as criterion we may
rest assured that they will play an i'm
portant part in future events. What
course they should pursue in regard to
affairs which are of momentous conse-
quence to Ireland will be discussed at
some future time.
The purpose here is to consider means
by which 1rishmen may become more
conversant with matters which apper-
tain to their own welfare from an edu-
cational point of view; and the ques-
ton very naturally suggests itself,
Whence are we to derive our inforn1a-
ton? The historians of today with but
few exceptions are persistently misrep-
resenting Irish character and Irish valor
and in not a few cases they ignore the
Irish altogether. We find for instance
in reading the account of the battle OF
Fontenoy in some of our encyclopedias
that the valor of the Irish brigade on
that memorable battlefield Is not re-
corded, and there is no mention of the
brigade in some of them, although 1T
won the battle for the French against
the allied forces after they had been
completely routed. There is a certain
amount of extenuation, however, for, the
English historians in this case. The
battle cry of the Irish conquerors on
that occasion, Remember Limerick"
brings forth recollections that are not
agreeable to English minds
But, apart. from that, English histori-
ans have ever been ready to throw dis
credit on the Irish; though the great
ness of the British empire today is due
in large measure to Irish statesman
shin and Irish valor. It must be said
to the shame of American historians
that we have Jared very little better at
their hands. There is scarcely a battle
that was fought either in the Revoll-
ton or in the Rebellion in which Irish
men did not distinguish themselves in
acts Of bravery and heroism; and while
we cheerfully admit that they did moth
ing more than their duty, we insist
that the historian should be impartial
enough to accord them their need Of
praise. But it is not to be wondered
at that Yankee historians are imbued
with prejudices against the Irish race;
they were bequeathed to them from
their English ancestors, and the benign
influences of the freedom and indepen-
dence of one hundred years have failed
to eradicate that spirit of bigotry and
intolerance.
We must, therefore, convert our lodge
rooms into schools and lecture rooms
and make Irish history part Of our
curriculum We must educate ourselves.
Push forward the good work then,
brothers; it is worthy Of success. Do
not relax your efforts because of tenn
porary failure. Great movements, like
great bodies, move slowly. Let us direct
our attention especially to the young
Irish-Americans who have no other
means of ascertaining the truth about
4 the land Of their fathers. Let us i'm
part to them the sad story of Ireland's
seven centuries of oppression, and her