The Irish standard., 1897-02-27

! cried out In indignant pdotest against
the vile assumption that Gods laws
should be set aside for the vile enact.
ments of servile parliament doaninat-
ed by lustful and outrageous mon
ster, King though he was What con-
cession and bribery could not do, was
then attempted by virtue Of the sword
| and fire and slaughter: Still the Celts
did not yield, for as many of them as
escaped the fiery engines Of destruction,
held to their faith and fed to the noun
tains or hid in caves, and in these re-
| treats mass was celebrated by the pros
cribed priest in spite of all the human
bloodhounds who were constantly on
his track; and the ''hedge schoolmas-
| ter still managed to impart lessons OF
virtue and the rudiments Of scholar
| ship to the youth of the rising genera
tions. This was cone in the case OF
| poor peasants who could not afford
means to carry them to France, Spain
| or Rome to get a sound Catholic edu-
cation, but the sons of the wealthier
Irish parents and those intended , for
the priesthood journeyed to the seats
! Of learning in those several foreign ma
tions.
After dealing out this kind of justice
and fair-play to Ireland, the impartial
student of history will see what justifi-
cation Englishmen have to taunt Irish
men with lack of literary accomplish
ment. But in this relation, as in all
others between the Celt and the Anglo
Saxon, equity is not. to be expected.
Englishmen, as a rule, never have a
good word to say of the Celtic Catholic
Irish. There is an Inherited and tradi-
tional difference in the origin and char
acter of the two races that cannot be
fused or welded by national treaties Or
by social intercourse The Anglo Sax
ons are proud, dominesring and lust
full people, largely influenced by the ex-
ample Of the monstrous. conduct of the
kings and queens who figured in the
earlier stages of the diabo1ical Refor-
nation scourge. The true Celtic stock
who breathe the air and faith hallowed
by st. Patrick can have no affiliation
with people who sel6snly cling to the
religious errors and .peaseenting spirit
of the past. This refers only to the
stubborn portion of Englishmen who
still refuse to do justice to Ireland. We
have to make wide distinction between
those latter and fair minded, who look
beyond their own interests and recog-
nize what justice and charity demand
and are willing to accord this sacred
right to their fellow-men. Britain has
it's quota of such noble hearted individ-
uals, and they are not to be ranked with
those above referred to- But If we
come directly to a scrutiny of the men
tai and intellectual qualities of the two
races in question, we find the Celt en-
dowed with natural aptitudes, spright-
illness of temp orament and humorous
perceptions far excelling his Anglo
Saxon brother. Nor is the Gael deficient
in the solder attributes of forceful
brain power, reason and logic, nor in
the constructive capacity that leads to
eminence in the pulpit, in the senate,
in the battle field, on the bench or at
the bar, and in the field of commerce.
To prove my proposition / could cite
numerous examples In each OF the
spheres mentioned, in live personalities
of this present day, without even re-
ference to the glorious records. Of an emf
nent Irishmen of an earlier age; but re-
striction OF space forbids the citation
and the reader must make the applica-
tion for himself. 1t is, however, one OF
the many disadvantages that Ireland
labors under, that she does not always
get credit for the genius and achieve
ments of her Distinguished sons. Eng
land has an ugly habit Of claiming for
herself what in reality often belongs of
right to Erin. Wellington was born in
Dublin, and Canning came of humble
parents in Derry; both were absorbed
by England as her oWn3 and Lord Kill
lowen, chief justice Of England, is hard
ly safe from absorption,5 although he is
an Irish Catholic and strong Home
Ruler to boot. Lords Duaerin, Wolse-
ley and Roberts may share the same
| fate Perhaps it is pafdonable in inl-
perial Britain to draw the gifted sons
| of ireland into her service, but she
should be honest enopgh to give credit
where it rightly belongs|
In making fair estimate of the
value of the too often repeated charge
of the illiteracy Of the Irish Catholic
peasantry, England g ma 41icious attitude
in the matter must be- keptain view, for
in the furtherances "a Her aevil designs
upon the hapless peoie Ishe strove with
malignant fury to osdepffse them Of the
use of their Catholic schools and Cath
oulic faith, something II the same sense
that whom the goda destroy they first
make mad. Preaelyfizing England
knew the strength sand sfervor OF Irish
Catholicism, and tint the devout sons
of St. Patrick would never accept a
,..,..,t fo,,o ,,fs q. :, ,,oodn rnHYion