The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-04-04
AN lNcIPlENT RACE WAR.
Cleveland Germans and Irishmen at
Loqqerheads.


Irish and Germans, a controversy be-
tween Father Mcmahon, editor Of the
Catholic Universe, and the Central
Verein Of that city.
Prof. Johannes Walfram, a we'll
known German resident Of Cleveland,
has stepped into the breach between
the combatants as peacemaker, Civ
ing reasons why the Irish and Germans
should learn to appreciate and not de-
preciate one another. He writes:
| During the last decade or two Irish
men and Germans have approached
one another and their relations have
become cordial. In the past the Ger
mans have failed to look for the fle-
roic, the grand and noble in the Irish
character, and the Irishmen have done
no better. They did not know each
other, and hence they did not under
stand or sympathize with each other.
The revival of the Gaelic language, tho
unfolding of the wonderful Gaelic lit
erature, and the founding of a chair
for the Gaelic at the University of
Leipsic, credited to the Germans, blaz-
ed a path for an approach of the two
races. The experience Of the Catholic
Germans in the United States with a
noble Irish clergy greatly helped. The
Knights Of Columbus also brought rep
resentatives Of the two races in closer
touch.
testant, who regard the Outstanding
of Germany as a blessing, gratefully
remember the Irish missionaries who
brought the gospel to the forests Of
Germany and founded converts and
monasteries. Every history Of Ger
many records this fact
| All this bespeaks mutual forbear-
ance; all this forbids that seeds of dis
cord should be sown, and when, un-
fortunately, they have been sown by
thoughtless persons, it demands that
they should find an unproductive soil.
In the century preceding the Christ
ian era the Celts Grish) lived on the
banks Of the Rhine, in the present AL
SAGE, Lorain and Belgium. Strassburg
was their citadel and where the Strass-
burg cathedral now stands stood the
forest temple of the Druids. In Bel
GUM they fraternized and itnermar-
ried with their neighbors, the Teutons
(Gernans). They did not cultivate the
vine, but they distilled fluid called
by them "zyth' (poteen).
| The Sequani, a Celtic tribe, united
with the Teutons under the German
chief Arlovistus and defeated the
Aedui, in the year rs B. c. The his
torian, Marcus Cato, of the fourth GEN.
fury, wrote of the Celts: "They are
bent upon warfare and .eloquence,''
and st. Hieronylnus wrote: "viris
semper fortissinis ct eloquentissimis
aboundavit" (Most brave and eloquent
men abound).
The migration Of nations in the
fourth century of the Christian era
drove the Celt from his mornings, and
some settled in Brittany, while others
crossed the English channel and
founded homes in Wales, Corvallis,
Scotland and Ireland. Thus Celts and
Teutons separated.
| I write this to prove that there are
Germans who follow the destiny of the
Celt with sympathy, and am only one
Of thousands. Irish wit and humor and
you will pardon-blarney (Matthey
Arnold defines the latter as Kettle ex-
travagance of specify frequently are
taken in an offensive sense by non-
Celts, when only pleasantly is intend
ed.
Does the 1rishman appreciate the
German?
/ 1 wish my countrymen could have
heard DR.. Douglas Hyde's eloquent
tribute to the Germans when he lee
tured in behalf of the Gaelic league in
our city. The writer acted as a vice
president at that meeting. DR.. Hyde,
|
man, and he told me that the study of
German in Ireland was very extensive.
Read what the Bishop of Limerick said
last year: What country is in the
van Of education and has set the stand
ard for all countries? Is it not Ger
many, where education has been the
dream Of her statesmen for genera
tons? dare say no one will gainsay
me when assert that Germany is at
this moment the best educated coun-
try in the world, and might also add
so far beyond all others that there is
no second
There is not sufficient cause WHY the
Juror teutonicus should clash with tho
Juror cclticus
| Celt is the Gaelic name for battle