The Irish standard., 1906-03-31
CHIEF DEFECT
OF the Irish Temperament is a
Tendency to Dothrone
; Prominent Mem Of Race, Says
nonsignor Grimes.

Prominent Mem Of Race, Says
nonsignor Grimes.
Last Sunday at the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception, in Syracuse.
says the Syracuse, N. T., Catholic Sun
of March II, Monsignor John Grimes,
the highly esteemed rector of the same,
In speaking of st. Patrick's Day and
what 1t meant to Irishmen and the
world, referred in striking language
to that which he termed the greatest
reproach to the Irish race-jealousy.
Already the secular press, far and
near, has reproduced his words In part,
but probably the most vital points have
been for some reason omitted. The
vigorous statements referred to here
follow:
Ignorance Of our illustrous ancest-
ors is the cause, in a great measure,
| why so many Irishmen are q trifie shy
of their country and their creed. OF
course the rising generation is not to
be blamed for its ignorance Of Irish
history since it is excluded from our
schools, and not only in book form but
also as to reference. AS. far as I am
able to learn, there is no mention made
/; IN the literature classes OF the present
day of the great scholars who pre-
served from barbarian devastation THE
literature and art Of the fifth, sixth and
seventh centuries, when continental
Europe was almost waste and the In
habitants mi-barbarians. The schol-
ars of those days were your ancestors
and mine, of whom we should be duly.
proud. These great scholars were not
content with preserving literature and
science in their island home, but when
the deluge Of devastation had ceased
they left their convent homes and trav, I
eled through Europe, establishing COLI
leges and universities for the education
Of the people"
This period seems to be lost sight
of, studiously ignored. no doubt. for
1t is too palpatle to be unseen by any
scholar. Those today in charge of our
educational Institutions simply will
not state the great service Catholics
have rendered toward the advance
ment Of civilization. In our high
schools and other centers of instruc-
ton. what pupil has ever learned that
the Trainer of the Copernican system
was a Catholic? What pupil has been
informed that Leverrier, the discoverer
of Neptune. the most extraordinary re-
suit Of human investigation, was d
Catholic? Where is it stated that
Johan Mueller. the inventor Of the
ephemerides, was Catholic? where
is there any reference to Fallopius,
Steno. Volta, Galvani-an hundred
others, even the great Galileo himself?
On the other hand, every effort is made
to minimize the~work Of the Church.
You parents who have children attend
Ing the public high schools, examine
the notes that treat Of the Church. in
the text books your children use. See
what adroit Misrepresentation passes
current as scholarship. Why you would
think from reading these notes that
your children were in a Protestant
Sunday school, instead Of in a com
mon school supported by the taxes Of
the common people. Surely there is
need Of vigorous action being taken to
free us from this injustice. We look
for liberation from this outrage to that
greatest Of our defenders, the Ancient
Order of Hibernians. They have al
ready protested in this city ON another
occasion and feel that in due time
they will give this matter their atten-
ton.
"But the immediate lesson, young
men, that you win receive from assO-
citation with the Ancient Order of
H1bernians is how to trample out Of
your anatomy all traces Of jealousy
which has been the greatest enemy of
our race, in fact. the greatest blot on
our name. To our dishonor must It be
said that this jealousy has wrought
havoc in every profession Of life. The
spirit of equality was SO dominant in
our nature that we could not bear to
see one of own people advance to a
higher grade without feeling an obli-
cation to dethrcne him. The more we
thought Of the advancement he made
the greater became our obligation to
achieve his overthrow and the more
bitter became our hostility towards
him. In fact. we did not care who.
supplanted him, provided he was re-
turned to the ordinary ranks.
Untold injury has been done to our
people by this policy in the past, and,
alas, in some quarters. it continues
today. Men Of prominence are markeh.
no matter what benefit they may be
to their fellow men. and their downfall
is sought. This unfortunate element in
our character has successfully armed
our enemies against us. They have
stood back themselves. They would
not dare to attack US openly at the
present day for various reasons, but
by their cunning devices, negatively