AN GAOḊAL.
49
The Gael.
A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Cultivation
and Preservation of the Irish Language.
Published at 814 Pacific St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
M. J. LOGAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. — Sixty Cents
a Year, Five Cents a single copy.
Terms of Advertising. — 20 cents a line. 25
per cent discount to yearly advertisers.
Entered at the Brooklyn P. O. as second-class
matter.
BROOKLYN, N. Y. MARCH, 1882.
THE REASON WHY THE IRISH PEOPLE
SHOULD PRESERVE THEIR LANGUAGE
In soliciting support for this journal a large num¬
ber of persons ask the question, “What advantage is
to be derived from learning the Irish Language,
it is no business language and is only a waste of
time to try to learn it.” We admit that there is no
money in it, but we maintain that there is an advan¬
tage in it to those who value their social character.
The incessant throwing of dirt and filth at the Irish
character by unscrupulous enemies needs something
to wash it away. The Language and Literature
of the country is that and the only thing to wash it
away. If the Irish people had a learned and cul¬
tivated literature it is not in the power of envy to
asperse their social standing. The mission of this
journal is to prove to the world that the Irish had a
learned and cultivated literature, and that it is not
in the power of envy to asperse them, and we call
on all our countrymen who value their social
rights, to assist us in the undertaking, and that
assistance will be best subserved by throwing the
Gael broadcast among the people.
Some people who pretend to be tolerably well
informed will ask. “Was there an Irish Language.
Is there an Irish alphabet?” Now, what must
the intelligent citizens of other nations think of us
when our own kith and kin speak thus? They will
certainly think (unless there be something
to counteract it) that we have been as our enemies
represent us — semi-barbarous. Those of our coun-
trymen who think thus, impliedly declare their
convictions, and have no incentive to lead respect-
table lives.
Hence the large number of drunkards which our
people unfortunately produce. The Irishman con-
scious of his own social superiority would be too
proud to allow himself to become a beast (and a
drunkard is no better). If the Gael succeeds, even
remotely, in making the Irish element sensible of
their social superiority over the nations of Europe —
if culture and enlightenment be the criterions —
and thereby lessen the vices generated by ignorance,
we shall consider ourselves amply compensated for
our labors, and the fact a sufficient answer to those
who ask, “What advantage is to be derived from
learning the Irish Language.”
THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS AND
THE SAINT PATRICK'S ALLIANCE.
Since the issuance of the first number of the GAEL
a considerable number of the members of the above
societies, with whom we are acquainted, sugges-
ted to us the propriety of soliciting their aid in the
furtherance of our undertaking. We are perfectly
sensible of the important aid which is in the power
of these organizations to render, but being the found-
er and proprietor of this journal, we have some
diffidence in appealing to them lest it might be
thought that we were trying to draw water to our
own well. We believe The Ancient Order of Hi-
bernians and the Saint Patrick's Alliance to be the
proper channels through which to propogate the
language They existed before we were thought of,
and we certainly do not pretend to be more patriot-
ic than they. A large number of them speak, read
and write it, and by a little exertion on their
part, there is no doubt but that they would make it
success. They may not attach the same impor-
tance to the cultivation of the language from a
national standpoint that we do. Men may differ
honestly on matter of this kind, we believe that the
ignoring of the national Language is hardly compat-
ible with true patriotism, because the language of
any nation is the essence of its nationality, and be-
cause we would not want to be trusting to the lan-
guage of our enemy to lisp our thoughts and senti-
ments — especially, when the language of that enemy
is only a mongrel of yesterday compared with the
purity and antiquity of our own.
However, so as to avail ourselves of every chance
to promote an extended knowledge of our national
Language, we make this proposition to the mem-
bers of The Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the
Saint Patrick's Alliance. — We shall send twenty or
more copies to any division or branch of, these or¬
ganizations at three cents a copy, either to the pri-
vate residences of members or to the meeting halls.
This would be only thirty six cents a year on each
member. We shall publish the names of
the officers of such divisions or branches, and such
changes in those offices as take place from time
to time, provided we be advised of such through
the proper authorities. If this course be pursued,
and each member obliged to learn half a dozen
