AN GAODHAL.
903
A monthly Journal devoted to the Cultivation and
Preservation of the Irish Language and the au¬
tonomy of the Irish Nation
Entered at the Brooklyn P. O. as second-class mail
matter.
Eighth Year of Publication.
Published at 814 Pacific st., Brooklyn, N. Y.
M. J. LOGAN, Editor and Proprietor.
Terms of Subscription — Sixty Cents a year, in
advance. $1 in arrear; Five Cents a single copy.
Terms of Advertising — 10 cents a line, Agate.
VOL 7, No. 6. DECEMBER. 1889.
A PLEASING RETROSPECT.
When eighteen years ago, in tho col¬
umns of the Irish World, we commen¬
ced the agitation for the formation of
societies and classes for cultivating and
preserving the Irish language, we did
not imply or expect that old men at
home or abroad should commence its
study, but that by aiding to perpetuate
the agitation through the formation of
such societies and classes, our kindred
at home where the soil is prepared for
the seed, would open their eyes to the
importance of the matter and act upon
it.
Our people at home were slow in
taking cognizance of what we were do¬
ing here, probably because the shoe
did not pinch them, or that centuries
of slavery rendered their cuticulae im¬
pervious to its actions. However, the
work which was being done this side
the Atlantic, as was expected, aroused
a few of our countrymen at home to
action, and resulted in the organization
of the Dublin S. P. I. L., and, later on
the Gaelic Union. This caused the I¬
rish American Gaels to redouble their
energies, and, as a result, founded THE
GAEL, the first journal ever published
having the Irish language for its
ground-work.
That the promoters of the Gaelic
movement in this country were correct
in their ideas that by continuing the
agitation here the folks at home would
be forced to take action, the reports
copied from the Tuam News on anoth¬
er page afford sufficient evidence, grat¬
ifying evidence. It is gratifying to
us because it demonstrates that our
exertions have borne fruit notwith¬
standing all the difficulties with which
we had to contend; and it should be
gratifying to every self-respecting I¬
rishman.
As remarked above, it is not neces¬
sary that the aged Irishmen should
commence the study of the language
to promote its cultivation. This object
they can attain by a united and gen¬
erous support of Gaelic literature.
When THE GAEL, with limited means,
has accomplished so much, what
would be the result were it in the
hands of every Irishman? The result
would be that the agitation would be¬
come so wide-spread that the head of
no school or college patronized by I¬
rishmen could afford to ignore its
teaching. Hence, if every Irishman
acted as if the success of the movement
depended on himself alone [as he
should] in twenty years every Irish¬
man and woman able to read and
write English would be able to read
and write Irish also, and thus regain
their pristine status among the nations.
We hope the other branches of the
National League, from Donegal to
Kerry, will follow the example of
Tuam, and we have no doubt but they
will if the matter be properly agitated.
No one can form an idea of what the
Irish have lost by their neglect to cul¬
tivate their language. Had they re¬
tained a cultivated knowledge of their
ancient language they would have been
the most important and the most re¬
spected element in this country.
Now is the time for Gaels to redoub¬
le their exertions, and follow up the
victory which they have achieved.
