The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-09
PUBLIC PULSATIONS.
The Hibernians' Ancient Tongue.

Editor of the Irish Standards:
The Ancient Order of Hibernians has
and generosity to Motherland. A
substantial proof of this is the fact
that few years ago fifty thousand
men contributed one dollar each to
found chair of the Irish language in
the Catholic University at Washington.
During the year 1000 the same organ
ization advanced a large sum to
South Africa in aid of the gallant
Boers.
The members of the A. o. II. have
ever been as true to the old land as
they have been loyal to the country Of
their adoption. I have an abiding
faith in their patriotism and intelli-
gcnce, and hence l write. am fully
confident that in bringing the vital ne
cessity of supporting the language
movement before these gentlemen, a
prompt and practical response will re-
suit. And this what is now needed.
The A. o. H. is the most practical,
as it is numerically the largest and
decidedly the most influential, Irish So
cicty in this country. Will it use it's
power to advantage by aiding in so
noble a worE-a work which every
true exile of Erin desires to see per-
mainly accomplished? The struggle
to save our native speech from ami
hilation has been valiantly carried on
during the last seven years. The bat
tic has been more than unequal, and
equally unjust. That which has value
costs. Hence, the hcrculean task I'M
dcrtaken and so skilfully and success
fully carried on by that little band of
indefatigable workers known as the
Gaelic League. 1t has been more sue
has met with reverscs because of the
Overwhelming numbers sent against
him. Yet, he has not been conquered
and never shall.
The league has been laborng effect
lively to remove all opposition. 1t has
been successful to marked degree.
Numbers of branches of the league
have sprung UP all over the country.
There is now an impulse on the part
of many of our people to acquire a
knowledge of their own tongue. And
this is vt it should be- The Irish
language is the only natural vehicle
OF Irish national feeling and Irish ma
tional thought.
III the beginning the members of the
Gaelic League, six all told, had to bat
tic not only against oppression, but
laganst the sophisticated tenets of
trio of professors in Trinity college,
who sought to kill the movement by
throwing mud at its supporters. But
the dirt did not stick, and so the Gaelic
League kept gayly working on. a
mistaken notion of nationality. the
false opinion of the Irish people on the
blessings of an English education. and
the supposed benefits accruing to Il
posScssor thereof, the unrcasoning
pride Of misguided and woefully mis-
governed people, rampant bigotry, ig-
norance and blinded prejudice no mat
ter from what source. were met and
hattied by that little band of intelli-
gent and undauntcd workers. Finally,
Il school board, some of whose men,
hers cannot claim high dcgre OF in
tcllcctuality. bitterly and viciously op-
posed the language campaign. There
are few fair-mindcd men OH that
school board, men whose intellectual
horizon has not been narrowed or be-
logged by the foul breath of prejudice;
men who have the courage Of their
convictions, who saw the justice of the
demand made by the Gaelic League,