The Irish standard., 1897-10-30
UNIVERSITY LITERATURE,

papers representing all the nationals
ties except the Irish. Why that is the
case our correspondent does not explain.
We presume that the same could be
said of all the state universities in the
country. We think that the students
of Irish ancestry who attend the uni
vcrsities are to blame themselves for
this apparent discrimination against
their nationality. Have they ever asked
that books, magazines and newspapers
relating to Ireland be procured for
them? If they have not, they cannot
reasonably find fault with the authori-
ties of the university for the omis-
sion. Probably the students OF the
other nationalities, the Germans. Scan
dlnavians. etc, demand that publica-
lions relating to the races whence they
have sprung be placed on file in the
reading rooms, while the students Of
Irish descent have not sufficient pride
of ancestry to ask the same privilege
From personal knowledge of Hon
Cyrus Northrop. the president of the
university, the Irish Standard will
venture to say for the benefit Of it's
correspondent, that he will make no
discrimination against any student in
the matter of creed. race or color He
is man of broad development who will
give every student an equal chance in
the acquisition of learning and make
no distinction in books or papers on
account of the nationalities they repre-
sent. The publishers of the Irish
Standard will be happy to supply a
copy of this paper gratuitously every
week to the reading room OF the Uni
versity If they are requested to do so,
and we believe that publishers of other
Irish American papers. like the Boston
Pilot and the Irish World, would do
the same thing II asked
The Irish Standard has always been
Il consistent advocate of the public
school system. though recognizing the
fact that it has some defects which time
and experience may remedy. The
greatest objection on the part OF Irish
Catholics to state education is the alb
sence of almost everything creditable
to their race and creed In the text
books in use. The histories are espec-
tally obnoxious to them, the compilers
and publishers being men Of puritanical
prejudices who purposely ignore the
conspicuous part played by the Irish
element and the Catholic church In the
establishment and development of the
American republic. One would imag-
Inc from reading American histories
that Irishmen are strangers in this
country. whereas they have been here
for two hundred years. and have made
Il splendid record In war and peace. OF
all the "Patricks" who distinguished
themselves during the American reyo-
luton. but one Is mentioned in the
school histories. and that Is Patrick
Henry. "the forest-born Demosthen
as Lord Byron styled him. Gen. Mont
gomery. who fell at Quebec is called a
"ScotchIrishman" by Bancroft. and in
his great history he does not give one
word of John Barry, the first commo-
tore OF the American navy. according
to Appleton's Cyclopcdia, probably he
cause he was not Scotch Irish" but a
Roman Catholic patriot from Wexford.
The oft-quoted passage by Bancroft
about Maryland. which appeared in the
earlier editions OF his history. was
stricken out by him at the suggestion
OF scctarian biSots Of New England.
So long as text books and histories in
the public schools deprive the Irish
Catholics Of the credit due them in the
upbuilding and preservation of the re-
public. the public school system will
not be satisfactory to them.
But wha; can they do to rcclify mat
tcrs? They can do great deal If they
only try They must always remember
that they arc American citizens and
that they contribute to the support of
the public school system by taxation.
They can suggest improvements in the
school books, so that they will be less
objectionable TO them. Let them de-
mand that such hook as Dickens
Child History OF England" for exam
pie. be driven from The city schools, and
that none Of their children lie forced
to stud; it. The author of "Amcriran
Notes" was an anti-Irish and anti-C Cath
Ollie hgot, and his production should be
rejected with scorn by the parents of
!lishAn,eritar Catholic children who
suppor! our pHbic schools.
We are strongly OF the opinion that
irish-Catholics ar" greatly to blame for
the books to be- found in public schools
and libraries. Their united voice de-
E!ailding fair play should be raised
throughout the land, ard ii would be
listened to. Tho American people love
fair p!ay and would accord It. Tho
boards OF education and tho librarians
will do their utmost to procure books
that will satisfy them ii they present
their grievances in The proper manner.
No discrimination against citizen's
creed or nationality should be -: Natcd
for a moment i:i the pubic SCHOOLS or
libraries. and wo believe that teachers
and librarians are willing aud anxious
n sNys In