The Irish standard., 1899-09-30
FATHER YORKE IN IRELAND.

AAAAGN AUNhE AN 1NELANO.
The Rev. Peter Yorke, former editor
OF the San Francisco Monitor, and the
terror OF the beetle-browed Knownoth-
lngs OF the Pacific coast, is spending his
vacation in Ireland and raising Hail
Columbia" with his countrymen on
their own native heath. He recently
lectured in Dublin OH the subject OF the
Irish language movement and attacked
the national press for its apathy in aid
ing the revival OF the Celtic tongue
He singled out the Freeman's Journal
and accused that magnificent organ Of
Irish nationality OF Anglicizing the
youth OF the country by giving in its
columns selections from the yellow
Journals of London. The Freeman's
Journal warmly resented his imputa-
tons and replied to his structures in a
spirited manner. Father Yorke "got
back" at it in a tl1ree-column letter and
handled its editor without gloves. There
was rejoinder from the Freeman
which elected another TRADE from Fa-
Their Yorke, but it was not published.
Father Yorke is vigorous writer and
undoubtedly patriotic Irishman. In
this country he rendered valuable serv-
ice to the church with his tongue and
pen, and made for himself a grand rec
ord as controversialist. We think,
however, that he should not have crit
icized the Irish press and people so
harshly The national press of Ireland,
and particularly the Freeman's Journal,
has been doing splendid work in the
cause OF Irish nationality. We have
been reading the Freeman regularly for
the past fifteen years and can bear testi-
mony to everything it says in its own
vindication. 1t may have its shortcom-
ings and defects, but its faults are trivial
in comparison with its merits. The
Irish people at home may also have
their faults, but we think it ungenerous
for returned Irishmen to point them
out without mentioning their virtues.
The lrishmen who visit their native land
after years of absence in foreign chimes
are too much inclined to indulge in
hypercritical comments on a brave peo-
pie fighting their way in the face of al
most insurmountable obstacles. 1t is
quite easy to lecture the Irish people at
home, but put yourself in their place
and what could you have done more
than they, had you remained with them
instead of emigrating?
Archbishop Ireland on his way from
the continent paid a brief visit to Ire
land few months ago to lecture his
countrymen on their incorporate habits
We presume he did so because he loves
them. Granting that he does, what is
the use of continually picking flaws in
the character Of the Irish people and let
ting others escape scot free? Not a
word from him about the English or
Scotch, though they are worse drunk
ards than the Irish. Why not praise the
Irish once in awhile for change, and
compliment them upon the tenacity with
which they have adhered to the faith of
st. Patrick in spite Of the most hellish
prosecutions since the reign Of the mon
ster Nero? Mingled praise and censure
from an Americanized Irishman may be
all right, but continual fault-fnding be-
comes monotonous and irritates the
Irish people.
So also with Father Yorke. He
slashes them right and left. Listen to
the following in his letter to the Free
man: Gas for true education, the less
said about true education in Ireland the
better. The whole system is an abom-
nation to anyone who has even mod
crate acquaintance with the science of
pedagogics, and would not, according
to the confession of the wisest among
yourselves, last for five minutes in a
true nation, claiming to be moderately
civilized"
Having read the public controversy
between the Freeman and Father Yorke
we have no hesitation in saying that the
paper has the best OF it. In dignifed
language the Freeman vindicated itself
from his aspersions and by irrefutable
evidence convinced its readers that it
has always encouraged the cultivation
Of the native language and literature in
its columns. 1t gave the names of the
works of Irish authors appearing in its
pages during the past ten years and
truly claimed that no other paper in
Ireland offered so many substantial
prizes every week for short stories, Irish
in subject and sympathy. If the Free
man is stimulated to excel its past rec
ord by the criticism of Father Yorke
the discussion will not have been with
out profit to the Irish people.
The first number OF William O'Brien's
new paper, The Irish People, which was
issued in Dublin on Sept. 10, was re-
ceived at this Office, 1880 miles away,
on Monday morning, Sept. rs. 1t is a
magnificent publication of eight pages