AN GAODHAL.
423
The Gael.
With this number the Gael enters on its fourth
year, buoyant and full of hope for the future.
When the Gael made its first appearance many
prophesied for it a short career. But those who
thus prophesied did not stop to think the material
change which has taken place in the Irishman these
dozen years past. His actions at home today are
revolutionizing the land system of continenta Eu¬
rope. He is to the land slaves what Wendell Phil¬
ips and his anti-slavery confreres were to Africa-
American slavery, some thirty years ago — the pio¬
neer of human freedom.
The election just past in this country is another
instance of the Irishman's progress in independent
aggressive action, and though some of our hide-
bound Democratic friends may censure his actions
in this regard, we tell them that he has achieved
the greatest moral victory ever gained on this side
of the Atlantic. The conventions of his party in
the future are not say, "Let the Irish go," nor
their leading spokesmen send them to "Salt Lake"
Never before was there such a moral victory gain¬
ed by the Irish element in this or any other coun¬
try. Fully 90,000 of them rebuked the "Let the
Irish go” cry and were it not for a mere accident
the rebuke would be decisive. Hence, no wonder
that the Gael should flourish it being the personi¬
fication of Irishism, and hence the reason that un¬
til the Irishman ceases to be Irish the principles
underlying the foundation of the Gael shall never
die — the preservation of the language of Erin and
the autonomy of her nationhood. A bright day is
dawning for Ireland. An enlightened, independ¬
ent people cannot remain in slavery. We had been
slaves in speech and limb, but, thank God, the
speech is being rehabilitated and with it shall be
the limb. Then, friends of the cause, redouble
your energies, and let the Gael find its way into
every corner. And you friends, of the Irish-
American press, bring the existence of the Gael un¬
der the notice of your readers, for, in this wide
country, there may be many desirous of promoting
the cause, but are ignorant of the existence of any
organized movement to compass it.
We would remind subscribers that the time for
renewal has arrived, and we would request that
those who do not feel disposed to continue it to
notify us by a postal or otherwise, that we may
send their copies elsewhere:
GOOD FOR PROF. ROEHRIG.
Prof. Rœhrig is back from the old country, and
contemplates a course of Celtic Philology in Cornell
University. Celtic study has already gained official
recognition and permanent existence in the Euro¬
pean Universities, such as Oxford, London, Paris,
Berlin and Leipsic. Here is an opportunity to
those wealthy Irish-Americans who can afford their
children college education to teach them something
of their parent language.
It would also be an encouragement to the sup¬
porters of the Gael who have, unaided borne the
brunt of the battle.
"Ignorance and Crime."
In criticiting Mr. Blaine's speech of Nov. 18, the
Brooklyn Eagle on Nov. 20, editorially uses this
language in speaking of the cities of New York and
Brooklyn. —
"Let the returns be examined and it will be found
that wherever ignorance and crime huddle there
Mr. Blaine gains, while in every ward and district
distinguished for the thrift and intelligence of its
people, he had the seal of condemnation set upon
his dishonorable career."
The fanatic Burchard in an excited moment
blurted out “Rum, Romanism and rebellion", but
the moral assassin of the Eagle in his cool, calm
editorial sanctum, with pre-meditative malignity
applies to the same element which Burchard had
in his mind's eye,
"Ignorance and Crime."
Which of the two phrases is the more libellious and
insulting? And the editor of this paper is an as¬
sociate of Irishmen! Nay, but he is a member
of the St. Patrick Society !!
What is the cause of the literary ignorance which
prevailed in the "wherever" referred to? Is it
not the result of the tyranny, robbery and murder
perpetrated on those hapless people in their native
land by the confreres of this canny Scotchman?
These freebooters would put the rope around the
Irishman s neck if he dared to educate his children
in letters or religion, and yet they have the ef¬
frontery to call us ignorant.
Ignorance and crime ! What crime? Was
there not more crime committed in the Eagle's own
ward — the ward of "thrift and intelligence" for
the last eight years than in the remainder of the
city for twenty years? If all the petty thefts
perpetrated in the city in that time were put togeth¬
er they would not amount to one half of the
$15,000.000 which the kid-gloved Ward stole. And
Is it not a fact that the principle owners of the
Eagle are believed to have defrauded the city to
the amount of $250.000 in the Reservior job. And
by the showing of their own moral teacher (Beech¬
er) they are as fully advanced in other more detes¬
table crimes. A section of the people of the 10th,
14th, 12th, and 9th wards are not obliged to go to
Europe or elsewhere for the good of their health.
These are not the wards which support in opulence
the thousands of misnamed medical practitioners
which abound in both cities. Of course these are
refined crimes by a refined "literary" people:
Why did not the Eagle apply ignorance and
crime to the Irish-Americans before election ?
The work is done now, and they are thrown aside.
It is a wonder the editor did not burst in trying
to keep it in so long.
Are there no patriotic Irishmen in Brooklyn to
found a secular journal to defend their fair fame
from those slimy mouthed reptiles of the pro-Eng¬
lish press?
