The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-06-12

| by Rev. Theo seifert in the following
manner: German studies in the fore
noon and English in the afternoon four
and half days in the week." It then
enumerates the branches taught, but
United States history is not among
them. Rev. Seifert knows little and
cares less for the history of the United
States for. American-born children. He
teaches English, to be sure, but it
dence to German, a foreign language
We have no fault with that, however,
in parochial school attended by chill
dren whose mother language is German,
as we believe they can learn English
faster through the medium of their par
ent tongue.
In German Catholic parochial schools
the studies and program are about the
same, but they teach United States his
tory. In the celebrated Avon public
school the German language had prece-
dence and Oliver Rasnick, the litigant
in the case, positively assures us that
the young men and women of Stearns
county are unable to speak or UNDER
stand the English language, and no one
has yet contradicted him. We have
seen ourself in this county Gstmans
born within twelve miles of Minneapolis
who had to get interpreters in the
courts when they appeared as litigants
and witnesses. ....
But what do "our big brother of Mil
waukee" and his little brother of Sioux
City think of German in the public
schools? Do they think it American to
tax the entire community to teach for
eign language in the public schools, be-
cause a certain foreign nationality is
predominant in politics in certain To-
| calities? If they do, then the Scandi-
| navians of this city are entitled to havs
the language of the Vikings taught in
| the public schools of Minneapolis; and
the Irish of New York should demand
in vociferous tones that the language
of Brian Boru, who whipped the Vik-
| ings 1888 years ago, be taught in this
public schools of Gotham. There is no
| objection on our part to foreigners
teaching their own language to their
own offspring at their own expense; but
| it is unreasonable for them to expect
others to assist them by public taxation.
We repeat that they should afford their
children every opportunity to master
| the language and history of the United
! States; for, as our esteemed neighbOr,
the North Western Chronicle, of St..
! Paul, declares: English is the Ian
guage of this country and it's con-
stitution and laws are in that
language A knowledge of it is
therefore one of the requisites to good
| and efficient citizenship
! We are as much Teutonic as John
Brennan and have no racial prejudices
against Germans or any other people;
and why that irascible gentleman should
select us for a target, we are at COM
plete loss to determine. We are no
competitor of his for public patronage,
and will not tolerate his bulldozing He
mOdestly claims that the North Western
Catholic "is abreast of the very best
Catholic papers of the country" If
! that be true his "big brother of Mil
waukee" is very far behind him. Such
claim is superlatively preposterous
and egotistical. In his own elegant
phraseology, it is both ''grotesque and
ridiculous" for him to make such a
boast. 1t may be good enough in it's
own section of the country, where it is
backed up by episcopal appreciation;
but if it is abreast of the very best
Catholic papers of the country" from
Boston to San Francisco and from St.
! Paul to New Orleans, it is about time
for our editorial brethren of the Catho-
lie press to be cup and doing for the
improvement of their papers. The
North Western Catholic is all right for
Sioux City and vicinity, but it's name is
almost unknown outside the Hawlseye
! state.
In conclusion, let us hope that our
two big brothers (big in their own con-
ceit) will now give us rest on the
language question, and bow submissively
to the highest ecclesiastical authority.
Let us hope that hereafter they will
/ preserve an eloquent silence on the sub
ject, or else omit the word "Catholic"
! from the title of their hebdomatical
sheets. Thiggin thu?
TALK ON TEMPERANCE.
Rev. DR.. Riley, the successor of Rev.
Wayland Hoyt, at the First Baptist
church of this city, says he is pro-
hibitionist, because he is an American.