272
AN GAOḊAL.
We have been informed that Wallace and
one of the Smiths are Orangemen, and we charge
every Irishman and every Irish woman who refuses
or neglects to propagate the language and litera¬
ture as particeps criminis in the great injury done
to Ireland and Irishism by that refusal or neglect.
The above instance shows beyond cavil the source
of Irish defection.
NOT POLITICAL.
Some of our friends think that THE GAEL med¬
dled too much in politics in its latest issues. It did
not touch politics at all because they have been de¬
cided for the next four years, and it is not in our
power, nor in that of our friends, to change them,
if we would. While politics were on the tapis the
Gael was silent.
We criticised the actions of three wealthy indivi¬
duals of our race who are credited with wielding to
a considerable extent the wand of leadership; and,
hence, the general public would assume, if not cor¬
rected, that they represented the "better element"
of their race. We criticised one for cowardice; one
for ingratitude, and the third for resorting to igno¬
ble tactics to suppress popular sentiment. These
three phases of the individual action of the parties
named are not characteristic of Irishism, and, as an
Irishman, we denounced them, as should every self
respecting Irishman in the land regardless of polit¬
ical affiliations.
All are aware that, as a general rule, the Irish¬
men least favored by the surroundings of education
and refinement at home are the monied Irishmen
here. Hence, it would be a gross injustice to the
Irish element at large to permit such to pass as the
standard of Irishism. It is no dishonor to these men
that they laid the foundations of their fortunes in
occupations unsuited to their educated brethen, but
their ignorance of their history and their consequent
belief that they have been descended from barbar¬
ism (like the “Scotch-Mayo" people), induce act¬
ions incompatible with that ancient Irish refinement
which is our heritage. [We have that certificate
from our enemies. — See top of foregoing page].
We eulogized another Irish-American because of
his steady friendship to his element and that emin¬
ence in statesmanship and Americanism which has
enshrined his memory in the hearts of nine-tenths
of the American people — thus adding a prestige to
his race which no amount of jealous bigory can af¬
fect.
There is another eminent statesman (in our opi¬
nion the legatee of Mr. Blaine in that characteriza¬
tion) whom we would eulogize, but as we are not
aware that he belongs to our element it is not with¬
in our province. — We allude to Senator David B.
Hill. And it is as remarkable as it is true that the
very element who would crucify Mr. Blaine would
baste Senator Hill on the spit! Hence there must
be something noble in the characters of these men
to excite the malice and hatred of the enemies of the
rights of man and of popular government.
Our political ideal was the late John Kelly, lead¬
er of Tammany Hall. When the Robinson bigots
sought to strangle Tammany by thrusting its enemy
down its throat, Tammany would not swallow it.
It ran its chief for the office and buried the enemy
out of sight. By that action Tammany raised itself
to a degree of power and influence which it had ne¬
ver before attained. It elected its nominees to the
governorship ever since and controls all the branch¬
es of the State government to-day. —
"He who fights and runs away
Is able to fight another day,
But he who fights and stands till slain,
Will never be able to fight again."
Had Tammany stood to be slained by the Robinson
bigots, that would have been the end of it.
We eulogize Irishmen, Protestant or Catholic,
Democrat or Republican, who attain eminence in
society, and we represent them as the standard of
Irishism so as to put to shame those who never tire
of shouting "Ignorant Irish"; and the Irishman
whose brain is too narrow to grasp this important
subject in view of the splendid prospects before his
element in the country, reflects very little credit on
the land of his birth.
The Dublin Report.
REPORT of the SOCIETY for the PRESERV¬
ation of the Irish Language, Dublin, for the
year 1892, adopted February 28, 1893.
The Society sold 4,634 books during the year
as compared with 3,196 in 1891, making a total of
108,325 put in circulation since its foundation; this
is exclusive of the number of the Society's books
reproduced and sold by private concerns.
The Report goes on, — There is a steady increase
in the number of pupils who presented themselves
for examination in the National schools, in the num¬
ber of teachers who obtained certificates of compe¬
tency, and in the number of schools in which Irish
is taught, and in the number of communications re¬
ceived from National masters.
The Irish Language was taught in 45 of the Na¬
tional schools ; 755 of the pupils were presented for
examination and 515 of them passed, making a to¬
tal of those who passed in Irish from the National
schools since 1881, of 3,516.
The number of pupils who passed from the Inter¬
mediate schools was 176, making a total from these
schools since 1883 of 1,729, and a total for both of
5,245.
There was a falling off in the Intermediate schools
owing to restrictions by the National Board of Edu¬
cation, but the Society has succeeded in having the
restrictions removed, so it expects better results for
the future.
Thirteen teachers were examined in July twelve
of who received certificates of competency to teach
Irish and receive Results' Fees.
The following Teachers have certficates to teach
Irish, and it is the fault of the Managers of the va¬
rious schools to which they belong if the language
be not taught in them, —
County Antrim.
Michl Hussey, Fisherstown.
S Morris, Cashel.
John Riordan, Ballymony.
Clare.
H Brady, Ruan, Ennis.
Michl Keating, Kilbaha, (M) Carrigaholt.
J Maher, Carrigaholt.
Cork.
Jas Aherne, Inchigeela (M), Macroom.
J Barry, Glendore, Leap.
C Buckley, Derrinacuhara, Dunmanway.
