330
An GAODHAL
The London Tablet has the following interesting
paragraph on the religious statistics of Europe ;
Mr. Mulhall's "Dictionary on Statistics," just
published offers some interesting comparisons with
the calculations of Dr. Brachelli, as quoted by us
some weeks since. We are unable to give Mr.
Mulhall's calculations of all the countries of the
world, inasmuch as he does not include in his es¬
timates Asia or Africa; but we are are able to com¬
dare the statistics of the two authorities as regards
Europe. Thus we find :
Mulhall.
Brachelli.
Catholics
147,430,000
155,900,000
Protestants
75,302,000
79,330,000
Greek Church
70,034,000
80,367,000
Mohammedan
9,652,000
6,445,000
Jews
4,882,000
5,984,000
It will be seen that while the Austrian statistician
gives a much higher figure for the Catholics, Pro¬
testants and Jews, he assigns a much lower figure
to Islam. But as the greatest discrepancy exists
with regard to the Greek Church — Brachelli being
no less than ten millions ahead of Mr. Mulhall —
we suspect that this difference must arise from dis¬
crepancies of calculation in the new Balkan States.
Another reason for the difference will be owing to
the date of the respective returns upon which the
tables are drawn on. Thus we find, as regards the
German Empire, the following differences :
Mulhall.
Brachelli.
Catholics
14,867,000
16,179,000
Protestants
25,580,000
26,318,000
Jews
512,000
561,000
On comparing these results with the official sta¬
tistics, just published in Berlin, of the census tak¬
en on Dec 1, 1880 we find that they exactly coincide
with those given by Dr Bracelli, which indeed pro¬
fess to be based upon it.
The Catholic population of America is about for¬
ty million or nearly one half the entire population
Mexico and South America exclusive of that.
It seems that Mr J Cromien of N. Y. had a con¬
versation with some of the lights of the Irish Na¬
tional League respecting the cultivation of the Ir¬
ish language some time ago, and that that light
told him if Ireland were a nation tomorrow he would
not be a party to the revival of the Irish language
saying "What good is it." Our friend Cromien,
who is an uncompromising nationalist — in the
broadest sense of that term, appeared to get stom¬
ached at such a declaration by a pretended nation¬
alist, and vowed that he would never again take part
in Irish nationalism is such were the sentiments of
"our leaders."
Never mind, friend Cromien, these national as¬
sassins shall take a back seat in the councils of a
Free Ireland. A free Ireland would have the law
courts &c. conducted, as at present, in the English
language where the litigants do not understand
word of that language ! No? The language of a
Free Ireland shall be her own language, and the
sentiments evoked by its preservation and cultiva¬
tion are those which will compass that freedom.
P. F. We do not know where the Annals of the
Four Masters can be had.
S. O. D. Charleston, S. C. The Gael is as pre¬
sentable as its income can afford to make it. You
have got it since its first issue, and if you have time
to look over "The Sentiments of our Subscribers"
you can calculate its income to a penny, except the
advertisements and a Five Dollar bill sent by Fa¬
ther Cleary of Millwood to help the movement along
Having ascertained its income in this way, go to
any publisher and get his estimate for turning out
the Gael, folding, addressing, wrapping and mail¬
ing the same, and you will find that we have paid
for the honor of turning it out. Of course, the
fault is not yours. You have done your part, and
if one hundredth part of your countrymen did quar¬
ter as well as you there would be a different story
to tell. Persevere and they may come up by-and-
by. Look at the list of subscribers in the Gaelic
Journal, and the "Sentiments" in the Gael and you
have the names of all who take an active interest
in the Irish Language movement. You may hear
a great many talking loudly in its behalf, but the
going down into the pocket to back these protesta¬
tions shows the sincerity of their actions. No
movement can prosper without an organ to keep it
before the public — yours is the second Gaelic let¬
ter published in the Gael. Please go over it and
see if you have fully sustained the sentiments which
it breathes. What has it done since to cool your
ardor? It was then only right pages it is sixteen
now. It was then a dollar a year. You get two
copies of it now for one dollar. Your neighbor
of Mobile Ala, Mr F McCosker sent us the third
Gaelic letter, but he is by far the first in its suppors
having sent as many as one hundred subscribert
up to now.
We cannot suit every one. Some want this class
of matter, others that &c. so that it would be im¬
possible to please all. But those who have the in¬
terest of the language at heart will bear with the
seeming shortcomings of the Gael, believing that
it is doing its best, according to its light, to promote
the object in view, free from selfishness, and will
support it accordingly. Mr S. O. D. do that which
we suggested above and we prophesy the recep¬
tion of your apology in a few days.
The French pushing their way into Asia on the
east, the Russians flanking on the west, Egypt and
the Soudan on the south, and Patrick Ford with
his emergency tactics north south, east, and west.
We would not be surprised to hear England appeal¬
ing to the world for protection in the same suppli¬
ant manner as that adopted by her to the Romans
in the sixth century.
Every Irishman should make an exertion to ex¬
tend a written knowledge of his language. Send,
then, the Gael to your friends at home for 50
cents a year.
