The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-01-13

gay anu W nave a deVll-may-care spirit
were more the characteristics OF the
Irishman.
There was nothing common in the
sentiments of the people, and he could
not understand how Irishmen should
claim separate nationality and at the
same time adopt English habits and
copy England in every way. Ireland
was once one OF the most artistic and
cultured OF the nations OF the earth, but
it was now one OF the least, and why?
Because the Irish people had departed
from the right path in ignoring her own
literature and language, and tried to be-
come English without being able to do
so. He could not understand the atti-
tude OF men who, while pretending to
hate England, knew nothing OF their
own past, men who said they hated the
country they were in everything trying
to initiate. He desired to tell those
who adopted this course that in throw
ing away their language they were
throwing away the most solid claim
they had in the face Of the civilized
world to be regarded and accepted as a
distinct nationality.
What could be thought OF those who
dropped the 90" and the Mac" who
would forget their soldiers and martyrs,
the names of the battlefelds OF ireland
and the best traditions OF their race?
How many Irishmen were there present
who would purchase material prosperity
at such a price as that? C'None.") That
question and the answer gave COM
plete illustration OF the difference be-
tween the Irish and the English races,
Tor. while nine out OF every ten Eng
lishmen would juml 1t .such an offer
regarding their country, nine out OF
every ten Irishmen would Indignantly
refuse it.
The ancient 'Eish Gaelic language
might be said to :.ye died with O'Con-
nell and largely owing to that great
man failing to incuIcate as part OF his
teaching the necessity for preserving
the language OF tn nation. 1t was dis
gushing to think u the low tactics OF
certain descendants OF ancient Irish
clans. The O'Byrftes OF Wicklow were
a race OF olden times that anyone might
be proud OF, but he found that out Of
400 families in New York, who had
been O'Byrne, 1916 lad changed it to the
Scottish name of Burns and only two
retained the orignaI Irish prefix.
A short time siucc he met Jew in
Belfast who told him he was allowed by
the national education board to teach
Hebrew, side by side with English.
Now, what were they to think of a
board which would allow Jew to teach
his children Hebrew, and would not al
low the natives OF The country to teach
their children the Irish language? They
should storm the national education
board in this matter He did not see
why lot OF judges iron the Queens
BENCH whose training did not fit them
to know anything about education
more than his education and training
fitted him. cottld stand and say why or
on what srounds they should allow an
alien to teach his children his own Ian
guagc and not allow Irishmen to teach
their children the Irish language.
The lecturer attributed the decay OF
Tra
to the decay OF its language, and trusted
all true Irishmen would assist at its re-
vival. Let them do so. and they could
look forward to Irislmen speaking their
own language and ruling their own
country for the advancement and pros
perity OF their own people.