The Irish standard., 1915-09-25

adopting those immoral and anti
Catholic doctrines and tendencies bet
ter than thorough knowledge of the
manners and customs, the home life,
the ideals and the high regard for the
moral code practiced by the people of
that nation which has been rightfully
designated the most virtuous nation
on earth.
Because in Irish history the children
will learn about the high standard of
morality maintained in Ireland when
even such Irish enemies as Lecky are
compelled to admit and to commend
"That high standard of female chas-
tity, that intense and Jealous sensitive
ness respecting female honor for
which, among many failings and some
vices, the Irish poor have long been
prominent in Europe" European
Morals, Vol. II, p. 1853.
Because the children of Irish par
ents in America should become IA
miliar with the sturdy morality of the
Celt which John Ruskin referred to
when he said that Ito the Celtic I'M
dercurrent of our Anglo-Saxon blood
is due the greatness of America" and
by such knowledge they will be proud
to maintain and perpetuate that high
standard.
Because a thorough knowledge of
Irish history will create in the minds
of the Irish-American children a just
pride in the moral attachments and
intellectual achievements of their
race; and show them that in COM
parison with other races in America
the Irish have suffered more for con-
science sake than any other race and,
like gold from the crucible, have come
forth from their prosecutions purer
and stronger than any other race on
earth.
Because a thorough knowledge of
Irish history will convince all persons,
young and old, that there is nothing
to be ashamed of in the history of the
Irish people; that there is much of
which the race may be justly proud
in the moral attainments and intel.
lectual achievements of the Irish peo-
pie in their native land, and that there
is much in their lives worthy of emu
lation and appreciation by their
kindred in America.
Because thorough knowledge of
Irish history will show all interested
that Ireland was the intellectual bea-
con light Of Europe from 500 years be-
fore the Christian era until the ad-
vent of the English; that Ireland was
civilized long before the coming of
Christ; that her missionaries after the
time of St. Patrick, converted the peo-
pie of many European countries while
the Irish at home maintained free
schools and colleges for the education
of their own people and welcomed all
who came from foreign countries to
drink at the Irish fountain of knowl-
edge.
Because the history of ireland since
the advent of St. Patrick has been
the greatest chapter in the history of
the Catholic Church, and those who
desire to keep the Irish in America
loyal to that church can use no more
effective means to accomplish that
end than to give the children thor
ough knowledge of Irish tenacity, Irish
constancy, Irish fidelity to the faith
of St. Patrick, maintained through CEN
turtles of strife, of sufferings and of
prosecutions.
Because the children in the paro.
chial schools should be taught the his
tory of that country of whose people
such an enemy of the race as James
Anthony Froude, in the New York
Times of October Is, 1872, said:
Whether the priests could have pre-
vented, agrarian outrages may GER
tainly be asked; but in justice to
them it must be said that their in
fiuence had kept the peasants wonder.
fully moral. Wealthy men may sleep
in Ireland with unlocked doors, so alb
solutely honest are the people. Of
lenses of impurity also are almost en-
f! tirely unknown"
The history of this people should
become textbook of morals in the