The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-02-04
HOPE AND FAITH
Lessons to Be Gained From
Study Of Irish history.
Good Effects Already Plain in
Ireland and America.

schools of this country and Ireland,
which is being promoted by the Gaelic
League, the Ancient Order of Hibern-
ians and patriotic Irishmen every
where, is having a good effect. The
Rev. +. r. McKenna, Of Kansas City,
writing OH this subject, says in part:
The spirit Of Irish revival" thut
has developed during the past few
years in this country owes its potency
to a better knowledge, Or rather a
truer and more thorough understand
ing of the past history of Ireland, and
consequently a more enlightened view
of the present and Il more hopeful one
of the future. 1t is a sad fact that
a great many Of our countrymen here
| and the majority of our Irish immi-
grants have only superficial knowl-
edge of the history of their country,
and rs a contemporary history can not
he truly understood without knowl-
edge Of the past, it is necessary for
the student to go back to the beginning
and read and study and digest, chapter
by chapter, the whole Of Ireland's
story. The history of Ireland differs
wonderfully from the histories of
other nations, inasmuch as, while his
tory in general is dull reading, par
ticularly for young students, Irish
history is more like tale or romance
and does not require the close study
between the lines nor the hard reason
ing that is necessary to the thorough
understanding of other histories.
'There is no other nation on earth,
not even Poland" says the Christian
Brothers in their school history of
Ireland, which has passed through so
fierce an ordeal. so dreadful crucible
of suffering as Ireland during many
centuries, but especially during the
last three.''
'There is Il two-fold lesson derived
from the study of Irish history-hope
and faith-hope in the eventual real
ization of an Irish Ireland, faith in
an allwise Providence. When Hugh
O'Neill and his followers, after their
manifold struggles, triumphs and dis
astcrs, had to fly the country and take
refuge under alien skies, and when the
last flicker Of hope seemed about to
be eXtinguished, another O'Nefll came
to the aid Of his suffering country,
and for awhile the light of hope shone
! bright and radiant. Again it grew aim,
ovelshadowed by the gloom of Crom-
wells tyrannical sway, but it burned
steadily, if dimly. Its rays kfndled for
awhile when Irish valor, Irish man.
| hood and Irish wonlanhood defended
the walls of Limerick.
The lesson of faith taught by the
study of Irish history is 10 less potent.
"1rishmen," says the Quarterly Re-
view, ''arc naturally a noble race,
made for loyalty and religion" If the
Irish people had not faith there would
| not be an Ireland today. If they had
seeded from Catholicism and en-
| braced the teachings of Luther and
Henry WILL, although it would have
avcrted Il great deal Of misery and
boodshcd, the after effects would have
| '.r3n most disastrous for Ireland as
Il nation, or rather for her prospects
| of becoming Il nation once again. True,
| She might have been prosperous, a
| hive of industry and a great factor in
the financial and material strength of
| the empire, but allowing this SUPPOSE
ton. would she feel prouder under a
renegade nation, prosperous, thriving
and absorbed in the British Empire,
than as country financially poor, COM
mcrcally crippled, robbed of her just
rights, struggling for existence, drain
I'd of her best blood, but still calling
herself nation, still strong in her in
dividuality, still proud to look back on
the past and rejoice in the knowledge
that her sons suffered and died for
faith and fatherland, still having
implicit faith and confidence in just
God, still believing that Ireland,
though oft doomed to death, is
fatcd not to de- and still
powerful in her self-reliance, re-
frcshed by memories of the
past, by the recollection that she was
staunch and true and that she scorned
tile gold that was offered to buy her
honor? No, had Ireland proved false
to her faith she would very soon have
lost her individuality, then her senti-
ment, then her morals. Ireland's
strength ut the time Of Elizabeth was
her faith. Ireland's faith is her strong
est bulwark today; it is unchanged and
unchangeable; all the horrors of san
culinary persecution or the blandish-
ments of proselytism have been I'M
able to shake it. And this combina-
ton of hope and faith-the innate vir-
tue of the Irish peoples bound to
result in the realization of an Irish
Ireland. The lesson which it teaches
is bound to have good effect. We who
are of Irish blood should take these
lessons to heart. BY reading the his.
tory Of the past we gain new strength
for the fulfillment of our duties in the
future. The hopes that perhaps lay
dormant in our breasts will be kindled