AN GAOḊAL.
361
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. April 21. 1884,
[From Professor F. L. O. ROEHRIG.]
Dear Sir, — Having recently had the pleasure of
receiving from some prominent Irish gentlemen,
residing in various parts of the States, letters
wherein they requested me to publish, or send for
circulation, a few words of encouragement for the
benefit of such of their compatriots as feel inclined,
but are perhaps not yet fully decided, to undertake
the study of their beautiful native tongue, — I now
most cheerfully and cordially comply with their de¬
sire, by making some general remarks on this
highly interesting and important subject.
Last Summer I spent (as you will recollect part
of my vacation in your city. Soon after my arrival
there, I was so fortunate as to become acquainted
with yourself, with Hon. D. Burns, Mr. T. O'Neill
Russell, and several others of the most prominent
Celtic scholars of New York. I met with you all
from time to time, for exchange of ideas and mutual
improvement; and was thus introduced at the Phi¬
lo-Celtic headquarters, on the Bowery, and also at
Clarendon Hall. Thus, it happened that, one eve¬
ning, I presented a short synopsis of everything
essential pertaining to the intricacies of aspiration
and eclipsis. My remarks on these difficult sub¬
jects were so kindly received that I was requested
to deliver an address on such topic, and repeat,
with full illustrations, the points set forth in my
extemporaneous essay. A day was appointed for
such a lecture, which was to take place at Claren¬
don Hall. I happened to be called suddenly away
from the city, and, therefore, could not redeem my
promise. I may possibly do so, some day, in
more complete, thorough and acceptable manner,
and shall then entertain you more fully on Celtic
Languages and Literature, with frequent reference
to the peculiarities and the linguistic as well as
literary excellences of the ancient and modern Ir¬
ish language.
What attracted my attention to the Celtic langua¬
ges was, at first, the many conflicting theories a¬
float as regards their origin, antiquity, their nature
and affinities. At the same time, I studied the
history of Ireland and of the Irish nation. The
great prejudice which prevails in England against
everything Irish, and has, probably, through Eng¬
lish influence, or at least by tradition, been, — in a
measure, — transplanted to this free soil of America,
soon vanished from my mind, and gave way to a
feeling of the highest appreciation of the Irish
character, of the noble-minded nature, the high-
toned sentiment and the admirable patriotic spirit
of the sons of Erin.
As I already once mentioned before the assem¬
bled Irish classes at Clarendon Hall, — when I was
in your city last Summer, — I happened to meet,
many years ago, in New York, a most distinguish¬
ed Irish gentleman, who is, unfortunately, no long¬
er in the land of the living. It was John O'Mah¬
ony. I met him at the Fenian Headquarters, and
had a long and most interesting conversation with
him on the revolutionary movement then just com¬
menced. In conclusion, he said to me, — what is
true to the fullest extent, — namely, that, to save
the Irish nationality, the preservation and perpet¬
uation of the Irish language will be the most cer¬
tain and, in the end, perhaps the only real, practi¬
cable and essential means: He mentioned, in this
connection, the Hungarians in Austria, and the
Poles, in Russia, — with what extreme tenacity they
cling to their own native language, and that, in
spite of the most decided opposition of the govern¬
ments to which they are subjected.
So was the Irish language forbidden in Ireland,
under the heaviest penalties, and with the infliction
of the most cruel and barbarous punishments; and
its cultivation is, to a considerable extent, still dis¬
regarded and discouraged, even here in this free
country, and and this even by people of Irish birth
or Irish descent.
I have conversed on these deplorable facts with
several well-informed, enlightened Irish gentlemen.
They all said it could not be helped, as the young
generation will not speak or use Irish, but English,
— the same as, in the German families, in this
country, the children speak English best, or even
exclusively, not caring at all to remain Germans,
but allowing themselves to become completely ab¬
sorbed by the American nationality.
But here is another consideration. It is not so
much for the Irish in this country that their lan¬
guage should, from an absolute necessity, be care¬
fully kept up as a living tongue, to preserve their
nationality ;— but the great object should be to
show to the people of the mother country, — of Ire¬
land, — what is the next important thing to do that
they may not cease to be a nation distinct from
their conquerors and oppressors. For, in Ireland
the people will look up to their countrymen in A¬
merica to see what they will do when wholly un¬
restrained and free. And this should be to teach
them to love, to cultivate, to preserve and
perpetuate their venerable mother-tongue, — so su¬
perior to the greatest number of the languages
spoken all around them on Europan soil, for its
antiquity, its originality, its unmixed purity, its re¬
markably pleasing euphony and easy, harmonious
flow, its poetical adaptation, musical nature and
picturesque expressiveness; its vigorous vitality,
freshness, energy and inherent power; its logical,
systematic, regular and methodically constituted
grammar; its philosophic structure and wonderful
literar susceptibility.
But, now, the important question still remains,
why should the Irish not be able fully to revive
and cultivate, to extend and keep up their native
tongue, also, here in America as well as that might
be done in Ireland? Have we not the praiseworthy
example of the French in Canada before our eyes
to follow and imitate? There, good and correct
