New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-27
Sim Fem Two Hundred Years Ago,

The first and most thoughtful expounder
of the doctrine of Sim Fein was Dean
Swift. All that was wisest and most prac-
ticable in the policy corrupted in our time
by weak and hare-brained leaders was
what he urged upon the people of Ireland
some two hundred years ago. Swift was
one of the bravest and most disinterested
champions that unhappy country ever ned
nor were his services the less valuable
because he was sensible Of the fol!ies and
weaknesses of those he sought TO help.
Nevertheless the author of the following
letter shows a complete misapprehension
of Swifts activities in Ireland:
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A careful study of the life and WORKS
of Swift will reveal that he had no aversion
Ito the Irish language, as your editorial
writer seems to believe. Like the proposal
! 70 nrevent the children of Ireland from be-
Looming a burden on their parents, his
lctrictnres on Gaelic are written in an iron
ical vein.
Evidently Swift had some acquaintance
with Irish literature as his "Liliputians"
land "Brobdingnagans" were taken almost
without modification from an old irish tale
Irish is. moreover, a very euphonlous IAN
ouage. and in Swift's day 1t was spoken
universally in Ireland in all its strength and
nur;+v. and man of the deans fine sensibili-
lies could not help being impressed with It's
lliouid sounds, which make music to the ear
Judging Irish by the severest standards, II
I cannot be pronounced a harsh or cultural
Language. ,
The deans references to the Irish language
were meant as an exposure OF the ignorance
of the English people as regards lreiahd'
and are a fine example of that delicate irony
of which that extraordinary man was such
nost master. NJ. O'REILLY.
New York, Aug 10, 1916
We may pass over the ridiculous allega-
Ition that two books of CULVER were taken
almost without modification from an old
Irish tale" and proceed to the more serious
attempt to show that Swift's proposal for
the suppression of the Irish language was
nut forward in the same ironical spirit as
the tract recommending the use of Irish
children for food. Nothing could be more
mistaken. We are not obliged to depend
upon the letter from which the passages
quoted in The Tribune were taken. The
same thoughts are repeated in tract pub
Ilished in 1929, which deals in a perfectly
sober and direct manner with several Of
the gravest problems in Ireland.
i There can be no doubt but Swift meant
exactly what he said when he declared the
abolition of the native language to be one
of the most important steps in the inn
movement of social conditions. He spoke
lof his own services, but intlmated that he
had not the spirit to do more. He hoped,
however. that some one else would con-
slider this reform, for it was his belief
that if the natives were compelled to aban-
don the old tongue at least on occasions
of business and in public places the reform
l"would in great measure civllize the most
barbarous among them," and tend ito re-
duce this uncultivated people from that
idle, savage, beastly, thievish manner Of
life in which they continue sunk TO de-
gree that it is almost impossible for a
country gentleman to find a servant of
human capacity or the least tincture OF
natural honesty"
The mistake made by too many modern
patriots lies in thinking of Swift as one
Inspired by sentimental affection for his
countrymen. In reality, he hardly con-
sidered himself an Irishman. What did
for this country" he explained, "was from
perfect hatred of tyranny and oppres-
sion," but he spoke of England as what
| ought to call my country. though ] hap
}. pened to be dropped here" He never