The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17

nes" fighting against a people rightly
struggling TO be free?
Dublin IS the capital OF the Pale and
as the Pale now comprehends almost all
Ireland the contagion has spread far and
wide. The national schools have nothing
national about them. Their programmes
could be used in California. in Australia.
in Cape Colony-they are so colorless. In
the beginning the system was aggressive
ly British and Protestant. After halt a
century Of agitation It has been made non
sectarian and unconditional. However. II
is doing Englands work and doing IL well.
Three generations OF the Irish have grown
up ignorant OF their country's history and
language. What is worse. they are not
only ignorant OF these things. but Trey
despise them. The Gaelic speech. which
had a literature when the AnglO-SaXOn
pirates were yet on the high seas, ts
looked upon as a low and vulgar gibber
ish. The Celtic nation that defeated the
Danes absorbed the Normans. held its
own against the might OF Protestant Eng
land, and In spite of six centuries OF con-
flscation and persecution preserved its
characteristics up TO the walls OF Dublin
within the recollection OF men yet living
is now disappearing before false and
perverted public opinion, done TO death by
fits own children and in its immemorial
home.
But there are evidences that it will not
be allowed 10 perish without a struggle
There IS still hope. Father O-GrOwney,
who died only the other day I'm Los An
geles. still a young man. is the martyr
OF the eau .. He. DR.. Douglas Hyde.
Father Hickey. DIR. Henebry. John Nc
Neil and scores of others. devoted men
and women. have seized the true idea Of
Irish nationality and are deter lined that
II the Irish nation is 10 commit suicide IL
shall do so knowing the nature OF its act
They banded themselves into the Gaelic
League about six years ago. and already
they have succeeded I'm awakening the
public conscience Of Ireland to the sad
condition OF the national life. They take
as their starting point that Irishmen in
Ireland wish 10 remain Irish. II they go
TO America let them become Americans.
but If they are to remain in Ireland they
must be Irish. IT, therefore. they are
Irish they are not English settlers in Ire
land: thei. lot Is not with the Pale, but
with the Gael. The Irish nation Of to-
day must be continuous with the Irish
nation Of the past. The Irish nation OF
the past was a Gaelic nation: therefore
tho Irish ration Of to-day must be
Gaelic nation
The league Is not afraid Of taking bold
stand. Language, II prOClaims. Is nation
ality A Frenchman speaks French.
German speaks German, an Italian speaks
Italian-why should not an Irishman
speak Irish?
The Irish are n logical people. and when
the question is put 10 them i'm this way
they recognize their duty. The Gaelic
League is giving them no chance Of re-
naming ignorant. Ii has its organizers,
who go through the country founding To-
cal councils of the society Great public
meetings were held during the summer In
the Irish-speaking districts. The object OF
these meetings is to destroy the old in
sensate prejudice against the language
the prejudice that made parents who
smoke nothing but Irish punish their chill
dren for speaking the mother tongue
There are men in San Francisco who were
whipped at home and at school because
they lisped naturally in the language their
parents spoke.
The first concern of the Gaelic League
therefore Is 10 stop the decay Of the Ian
guage I'm the districts that are not yet
absorbed by the Pale. IL is cOnserva-
tive estimate u take the people who can
speak or understand Irish at a fourth of
the population. II those who speak II will
teach IL 10 their children and II those who
understand It will begin to use II n splen-
did beginning will have been made. The