The Irish standard., 1905-04-01

Inc lOllOWluS 0lOQuSuI pOA Iloy al VI
the part which the Celt has played
in the worlds history appeared in the
last issue of the Boston Republic. 1t
is from the pen OF the Very Rev.
Thomas J. Shahan, professor OF
ecclesiastical history in the Catholic
University Of. America.
On the threshold OF the twentieth
century we ask ourselves what is to
become of Ireland? We are we'll in
the eighth century OF her political sub
lection to England. For more than
seven hundred years the spirit and
temper, the ideals and the habits OF
a distinct nationality have been
sustained by the people OF that island.
Their history since the Norman Con-
quest may be written in one word
eternal invincible protest. The courses
of the life of the world have been
changed by reason OF Ireland's solemn
refusal to accept willingly the hege-
mony of England. That protest caused
the expulsion of the Stuarts from their
once-proud throne; that protest helped
to make our revolution a success;
that protest broke the impact OF the
Reformation of the North, and forged
the strongest and most supple weapon
of modern Catholicism; that protest
loaned million OF men to France IN
a hundred years, and another great
multitude to Spain and Austria; that
protest helped the democracy OF Eng
land to cheap bread and genuine
representation in the councils Of their
own island; that protest has been a
strong factor in every decade OF our
political life, for it loaned to American
public sentiment of fierceness and a
determination, and old historical back
ground, in the political and economical
struggle that we have been carrying
on with England since our birth as
a nation on the frozen plains OF Valley
Forge and the floating ice OF the Della
ware; that protest gives unique
character to the latest turning-point
in the history of freedom-the strug'
gle of the Boer for the right to live
in the enjoyment OF those goods that
are set down as original and inalien:
able in the preamble OF our Declar'
alton of Independence. Do l say too
much when assert that in the light
of Ireland,s long unbroken protest
against English domination every po'
litical freedom of the last three cen
turies has been won?
When the old Ghibelline, Stefano
Colonna, was asked by the courtlers
of Philip the Fair where was now the
fortress of his hopes he struck his
breast proudly and replied: Here with
in. Oh, the God of Nations be thanked
for it! Lone and helpless in the hands
of their eternal enemy, the people OF
ireland have saved the fortress OF
their national soul; they have never
apostatized from the belief in and the
love of their ancient fatherland, a
belief and a love that with time have
taken on many OF the functions OF a
native religion. They have never sui
fered the scandal of gold. The yellow
splendors of London never reused in
Ireland any popular thirst for enjoy
ment. There, at least, men never
bowed down before the glory OF i'm
perial greatness. There by thy gods,
o England! We worship at another
altar!" Out of the Middle Ages they
have been brought down into our own
day a vivid racial sense OF justice and
equity to all, piety towards the past,
and an admiration for those shadowy
generations OF brave men and beauti-
full women who lived out on the an
cestral soil their share of continuous
social existence that goes back into
the twilight of history.
What is the secret of this ineradic-
able sentiment of nationality among
the Irish? Why is it that this root
springs up forever? That it makes
but little difference where the sons
and daughters of Ireland dwell upon
this footstool-in the heart OF each