The Irish standard., 1906-01-13
BRING DR.. HYDE TO THIS CITY

Most people are aware that 70
several weeks DR.. Douglas Hyde tn
leader of the Gaelic League, has bee,
in the United States lecturing befor
college faculties, students and Irish
societies in the larger cities of the
east. 1t is understood that the Irish
citizens of st. Paul have Interested
themselves in securing Il lecture in
that city and that Douglas Hyde will
appear there the last of the present
month. Irishmen of Minneapolis Should
not allow the opportunity of securing
lecture in this city to pass. DIR.
Hyde is willing to appear wherever
he is asked to do so. We believe tha.
there is a sufficient number Of people
in Minneapolis interested in the move
ment which he represents to Justify
the securing of the meeting. DR.. Hyde
appeals to no party or religion. He
represents movement which has for
its sole object the preserving of the
toms of the Irish people, In word
his movement is one to make Irelant
Irish. The objects of his visit to thi.
country are two-fold. First to in
terest those Of Irish blood and to ell.
list their sympathy in the movemen
to preserve the Irish nationality: ant
second. to secure funds for the pur-
pose of hiring teachers to teach the
Gaelic language in Ireland.
Last year there was expended sixty
thousand dollars of the school fund
for the teaching of Gaelic. This year
the British government refuses to al
low such an expenditure and the money
for instruction must be raised directly
from the people. DR.. Hyde Is giving
his time and paying his own expenses
upon his present trip. Not a dollar
of the funds raised in the United States
will go to him personally. He had
great success in the Eastern cities.
AS much as ten thousand dollars was
raised in New York City alone. There
are in Minneapolis a large number of
influential and wealthy men who take
pride in their Irish ancestors. There
Is now an opportunity to show their
interest and patriotism. There never
has been a movement more free from
partisan coloring than that which DR.
Hyde represents. The purpose of the
Gaelic League is not only to teach the
Gaelic language but it is also indus.
| trial. It's object Is to deanglicize Ire
land. Like all oppressed people the
Irish have initiated in some respects
their oppressors instead of holding
fast to the glorious traditions of thei,
own country. Unfortunately the imi-
| tation is often of the worst features
rather than the better ones. The Gaelic
| League would not abolish the English
language from Ireland, but it would
make Ireland a bilingual country
English would remain the commercial,
language of the country while the
Gaelic would become the tongue o.
the home and family. DR.. Hyde points
out the fact that the Gaelic litera.
ture Is the only one which has never
been Influenced by the Greek or Latin
1t is the only literature that picture.
our barbarian ancestors when they
were in state less advanced than il
the time of Homer. The ancien
Gaelic stories are beautiful and thrill
ing. 1t was a translation of some O
these stories by Lady Gregory which
recently drew forth the commendatio:
of President Roosevelt.
The movement of which DR.. Hyd,
is the leader should commend itsel