Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16
The Sim Fein Movement.

The Sim fem pronounced Sn1u-ldne)
movement is the most singular OF all the
many strange agitations in all Irish his
tory. and most compact and effective
expression of all the motives that have
been engaged in the regeneration of Ire
land. Its purpose is moral and economic
as we'll as political. 1t has undertaken
an attempt to secure self government for
Ireland by demonstrating that the people
deserve it. and that they are competent
to administer their own affairs. Its lead
ers have attempted the prodigious task
of rescuing Irish politics from mobs and
demagOgueS and fantical agitators, and
placing them in the hands of practical
honest, able and patriotic men. Sim fem
combines politics with morals, and Is
endeavoring to promote temperance,
sobriety, commerce, education. literature,
industry and economy. 1t seeks to de-
velop the native instincts and genius of
the people and to stimulate their patriot
ism by reviving the Gaelic language. arts
and sports, and intensity in that manner
the self-respect and the ambition and
patriotism OF the race.
At the same time it is organizing move
ments for promoting Irish industries. for
teaching agriculture and encouraging
trades in order to increase the prosperity
of the people and make them more indie
pendent.
The motto "sinn fem signifies "our-
selves alone" and expresses in two words
the basis and the character OF the pro-
gram. 1t IS described by recent writer
"a movement. broader, grander and
more revolutionary than any Ireland has
ever known; movement of national
resurrection, national Standardization and
national self-dependence."
The new party is promoting the Celtic
renaissance with great energy. encourage
ing the use of the old Irish language In
conversation and in the schools, the re-
zfrl nr0d
sports; encouraging the poets and other
writer's to give expression TO the native
patriotism passions and emotions in
prose and verse i'll the language of their
ancestors. 1t has revived the national
drama 1t is proclaiming the patriotic
duty of buying only Irish goods and Irish
products and bOycotting imported mer-
chandise. 1t has a department of agri-
culture which. for the first time in his
tory. is furnishing assistance and advice
to the peasant farmers in the cultivation
of their land. in the improvement of their
crops and in securing better implements.
so that their labor will accomplish more.
1t has established a chain of cooperative
creameries; ii is importing the best breeds
of poultry swine, sheep and cattle, ii is
establishing village savings banks and
pawnshops. where the poor can borrow
money at reasonable rates of interest; ii
is assisting to open stores for the sale OF
Irish goods starting commission houses
doing many other things for the improve
ment of the farmers. mechanics, trades
men and other classes OF people.
Success in Hungary.
While this movement has taken more
practical shape and has acquired greater
force In Ireland, it is not original there.
II was first proposed by a Hungarian pa
triot named Deak In 1s4s to preserve the
INDEPENDENCE and the individuality Of the
Hungarian people against the attempts to
impose Austrian laws, Austrian officials
and Austrian trade upon that country.
The struggle continued for twenty years
and was finally successful in securing the
, present political conditions in the Austro-
hungarian empire. which is composed OF
two equal. coordinate partners. indie
pendent in everything except a common
sovereign.
The history OF Deak's movement is re-
lated in pamphlet called The Resur-
rection of Hungary which was trans
lated into English several years ago and