The Irish standard., 1906-03-24


which they received in South African
battle fields and how much Irish
vengeance was at the bottom Of it!
Let them look to- the perceptibly di-
minishing numbers of Irish recruits for
the ranks Of their army, and in future
struggles see what that means! These
are facts which today a thoughtful
Englishman cannot, overlook and which
a thoughtful Irishman cannot but con-
strue as an omen Of good for his coun-
try.
Another matter which augurs well
for the future Of Ireland is the revival
of their native language. The ignor-
ance which prevailed regarding their
past history is fast disappearing before
the spread of the Gaelic revival. Today
men gifted and true are imparting to
the young rising generation a knowl-
edge Of that language which once our
proudest boast in modern day was cast
aside as useless and forgotten relic.
The labors Of q Douglas Hyde and other
like scholarly workers in the movement
have achieved ouch unlocked for sue
cess that q person might be almost
tempted to assert that all the stOried
past will bloom forth again in it's
pristine majesty. No, that is an inn
possibility! These earnest Gaelic work.
ers dream not of utopian wonders.
Never again shall an Ossian sing his
undyins epic of perpetual youth or
Emania's halls ring with the loud mer..
riment of red-branch knights. No
amount of human enthusiasm can re-
call from the cloisters Of Cong
Roderick O'Connor to rule again in
medieval grandeur over the mist
covered hills and verdant valleys of
Erin. Never again do we expect to
hear the slogan cry Of the lusty war;
riors in headlong pursuit rush upon
the foe, or n Grace O'Afalley marshal
her stately galleys by her island home
on the western main. No, all these
stage OF real life no Gaelic revivalist,
no matter how ardent his enthusiasm
for the cause, can possibly hope for.
But the real substantial good which
will accrue from it is the rehabilimcnt
of National Life moulded according
to the spirit of the past Those who
III ,nf fol
temperament may be at a loss to under
stand how it is possible to make even
the spirit of the past" live again
under modern conditions? To such the
answer is that the roots of a romantic
past era have never been eradicated
out Of Irish breasts. If they We're alto
gcther erased 1t would be impossible to
explain the whole-hearted endeavors
and personal sacrifices made by Irish
politicians during the past half century,
1t would be the subtlest of enignas
to understand the undying influence
possessed by the writings of DAVIS,
Mangan and Ferguson over every Irish
man who has perused their pages. The
bold rhythm of Davis ballad songs, the
Incompatible weird, melancholy muse
Of Mansnn, ana the Fairy-like strain
Of Ferguson, eyer haunt the magma
ton of the Celt, who even does not
understand 4 word of Gaelic, simply
because those writer's have almost en-
tirely been inspired by that past which
is hidden in the manuscript pages of
those old Irish writer's.
In this grand revival then today Of
that ancient past which usllers in q
new national existence it matters not
IL in by-gone days the vast hurricane
Of persecution swept the clans from
the hills and emigration's fell swoop
robbed often-widowed Erin of the
faithful Irlshmen. In this happy COM
ing day when the rainbow OF golden
promise appears above weeping skies
the chieftain's place will be supplied
by leaders solid and true, and as for
emigration-which even today Is so
Observation-Disclosures settled conditions
that evil can be easily remedied. 1t
is u fact of history that the population
of Ireland which In tho year 1900 had
been only 100000 increased to S.
100000 in 1871. Who thinks it im-
possible that the self same thing cam
not happen again? History it Is said
repeats itself.
Looking carefully over Ireland's
prospects today never perhaps could
the prophecy of Cardinal Newman,
made so years ago. be more appropri-
atcly quoted. He said then: II look
upon Il land both old and young, old
In It's Christianity. young In it's promise
of the future. A nation which re-
ccived grace before the Saxon came to
Britain and has never questioned it.
\ Church which comprehends in it's
history, the rise and fall of Canterbury
and York, which Augustine and
Paulinus founded, and u Pole and a
Fisher, left behind them. contem-
plate a people which has had Il long
night and will have an inevitable day;
I am turning my eyes toward a hum
dred years to come and dimly see the
Ireland am gazing on become the
ne IN H.