The Irish standard., 1898-04-02


had no objection. to be American, but
lie had very strong objection to being
English. CHEERS and laughter)
Ho objected to giving England all the
advantages-tho other European coun-
tries ncne. The Representatives of ether
elements could look after the interests
OF their own people. He claimed no
leadership. hut he could express an
opinion he believed to be pretty general
among the people of his race in Amer
ca, who were counted by the million
Irish history, impartial Irish history,
should DO more generally taught in all
our schools than it was, so as to cult
vato the race pride Of the Irish-Ameri-
| cans, just as the race pride of the An
glo-Americans was now cultivated in
this country. Boards of education, in
stfuctcrs in private schools. prelates,
priests and rank and file all shared this
| responsibility. He would ask again,
what rights had English history in
America that all other history, except
to give one element monopoly of
knowledge in a matter so important
No wonder whatever that English SEN
timcnt--Anglomania to such
an extent In the United States, when
American children were Systematically
| taught to give the preference in know!-
edge to the very country from which
their revolutionary sires had wrested
liberty by the sword. (Great applausc)
The Irish American pupil in all the
| schools was stricken dumb in argu-
ment, because he was taught nothing
in regard to the history Of his fathers
country, except what he casually, if the
father were patriotic and thoughtful,
taught him in tho home He (Mr. Fin
erty) would have the Irish-American boy
and girl learn in Cur schools--all our
schools, sectarian and non-sectarian-
that they are the heirs Of a glorious
struggle for civil and religious liberty
llnequalled, perhaps, in the annals OF the
world. When the Anglo-American
child Toasted of Occur de Lion he
would have the Irish-American child
boast Of Art McMurrough (applause);
when the Scoto-Amercan child men,
toned Wallace. he would have the
IrishAmerican child refer to Hugh Roe
O'Donnell; when tho Scoto-American
pupil mentioned Robert Bruce and
Bannockburn, he (Mr. Finerty) would
have the Irish-American pupil speak Of
Hugh Mcneil and the Yellow Ford.
cloud applause.) When the Anglo
American student boosted of Crom-
wells deeds in arms, he would have the
Irish-American child answer with the
glory OF Owen Roe ,O'Neill at Benburb
and Patrick sarsfeld at Limerick.
prolonged applause.) When the An
gIo-AEerican pupil commended Hamp-
den and Russell. he would have the
Irish-American child praise Grattan
and Henry Flood and Robert Emmett
and Daniel O'Connell. loud applause.)
In this way only could patriotism be
preserved and perpstuated. He did not
mean that the pupils should be less but
| moro American-they should DO broad
ly taught, not narrowly instructed
England should get her share, and no
more. in our public schools. 1t was an
outrage on every other element to give
her the premier place in our historical
curriculum. Prolongd applause) fIe
knew that some people, who considered
themselves good Americans and patriot
ic Trshmen, would disagree with him.
He did not care for that He wanted to
open his mind to the people, and he
knew Of no better place in which to do
it than at a banquet Of the Knights of
st. Patrick and in responding to THE
Day We Celebrate"