The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-01-02
MESSAGE TO THE IRISH
DR. Meyer, Noted Gaelic Scholar Speaks at Celebration
in Memory of Manchester Martyrs

lessor Kuno Meyers speech at the
celebration of the anniversary of the
NanchesterS Martyrs by the Clanna-
Gael Of Long Island, at the Academy
Of Music. Brooklyn, N. Y, on Sunday
evening, December 6:
Children of the Gael: I have been
invited to say few words from the
German point of view on the war gen.
orally, and more particularly on the
relation which has suddenly sprung
into being between my native country
and Ireland. Before do so. allow me
70 refer briefly to my own position In
the matter. A German by birth and
nationality, count myself an adopted
son Of Ireland, whose ancient language
and literature and whose history have
been the chief concern of my life.
while she has generously recognized
my work by granting me the honorary
freedom of two of her fairest cities.
Knows English Well.
For thirty years have resided
among the English, with many Of
whose prominent and leading men, not
only in literature, science and art, but
also in politics, am united by ties
! Of long standing friendship, which
nothing, not even the present enmity
/ between our two nations, shall sever,
40 far as am concerned. Three years
ago I returned to my native land,
where have lived in constant touch
with well informed and influential po-
litical circles. From all these circum-
stances l may say that have perhaps
had better opportunities to become &C.
quainted with the events that have
brought about this war and with the
issues now at stake than most people
outside the sphere of professional dip
lomats and politicians. .#
=" From 1896, when the first distinctly
threatening note was sounded in Eng
I land that Germany was the arch rival
who must at all costs be. crushed,
sflf' W Tol,5Stt sfoss1y sesry step that
!, brought. us nearer to the inevitable
kss,,e, carefully noting everything in
my diary. It was in the summer OF
1911 that lost all hope of peace be-
tween England md Germany, when
the two countries " .te on the brink OF
war, though a majority of the people
i Of England, who by strange fiction
are supposed to govern the country
knew nothing about it till afterwards
And yet in ones dread of the horrible
calamity of such war one clung to
false hopes, hoped, as the saying Is
against hope, and shut ones eyes
against facts that were staring one
In the face. So did our emperor, sc
did most of our prominent statesmen
and so did not few among British
politicians outside the foreign office.
English DupIicity.
remember during my last visit to
England, in the spring of this year
Lord Haldane expressing at a friendly
dinner his belief that, on the whole
the situation was not unfavorable, as
the grouping of the great powers
seemed to him to afford guarantee
of peace; Sir Edward Grey keeping
Russia in check, SO he expressed 1t
and Germany doing the same by Aus
tria-Hungary. OF France and her un
.appeased desire for revenge he said
not a word, nor of the fact that the
war party both there and in Russia
trusting to the military conventions
existing between them and England
.(into which Belgium also had entered)
counted with absolute reliance on Eng
lish support in any quarrel that might
arise between them and Germany OF
her ally, and were confident of com
;paratively easy victory. And yet the
,aRme Lord Haldane had told our am
bassador as long ago as December
1912, that in a general European wal
Ingland was obliged under all circum
Itan6es to stand by the side of France
He was fully acquainted with the
terms of the military conventions, and
sso were all other prominent members
= of the cabinet, including Lord Morley
But these are things of the past and
have now only an historical interest
!, However, can also speak of the
present, for / only left Berlin about 8
fortnight ago and have as far as posi-
ble kept abreast of all important
events since the outbreak of the war
/ visited many of our prisoners camps
and had many talks with the English
and Irish among them. But what will
interest you most is that have re
u heatedly met and conversed with 9
britain prominent Irishman who, as
y4u know, has recently arrived in Ber
into represent the cause Of Ireland
20 the German government and to lay
certain facts before them. When
net him, the words of the old sons
zsept running in my head, with some
light variations:
II met with Roger Easement and
81, took him by the hand,
And said, How is poor old Ireland and
how does she stand?