AN GAODHAL.
333
face anything rather than the humiliating truth, has
kept the Irish in their chronic servitude. They
throw the whole blame on English persecution,
while really their own mad folly, pride and incivism
are to blame for much of their misfortunes. Now
they cannot do anything, it seems to help them¬
selves without the intervention of English laws and
American dollars. The greatest blessing that could
befall the Irish would be to have some just native
despot to rule them with military strictness for
twenty years. Were mine the happy lot I would
clear the island in one week of every book in the
English tongue of demoralizing tendency. I would
make every man able to do a turn of good honest
work with hand or tongue, head or pen, bend him
to his task in double quick time. I would make the
schools and colleges teach how to be an Irishman, or
I would make short work of these institutions how¬
ever ancient and venerable No people on earth
stand in such need of a strong, just Irish govern¬
ment as the Irish do They make most excellent
soldiers, and they will make excellent citizens when
governed on a popular plan.
Now the plain, unvarnished truth is, that for ages
the Irish have been going to the dogs politically, and
now, under the influence of the corruption of a lux¬
urious and decaying English civilization, they who
never profited by prosperity are beginning to suffer
from the moral contamination of that social rotten¬
ness. As for the guardians of national faith, tradi¬
tion and morality — they don't appear to recognize
the new condition of things that is gaining headway
among them, and if they did, have they organizing
genius to overcome them? I know it is very bitter
for Irishmen to hear these unpleasant truths, but
they are told by an Irishman, whose motives all his
readers know. Where is the use in blathering ab¬
out "the finest peasantry," when these same peas¬
antry were guilty of the greatest crime of moral cow¬
ardice in history. As to that well recognized faith
and virtue, why not recognise that both are now
threatened with terrible danger. St. Patrick pray¬
ed that the Irish faith would last for ever in Erin,
say the greybeards. Agreed, but would St. Patrick
find his Erin any more if he came on the earth?
Would he find the Gaodhail he left? It may be
that the last chance for national existence is now
offered Ireland. Shall her children prove equal to
the occasion?
THE GAELIC LEAGUE.
The Gaelic workers in Ireland are extending
the scope of the League organized in the Gael in
February, 1890 (in No. 7 of Vol. 7). The pro¬
ramme of our Irish friends is to enroll in the Gae¬
lic League every man and woman in Ireland who
speaks the Irish Language, organize them into
clubs to meet and advise occasionally concerning
the business in hand, and other social purposes,
the Irish Language only to be used at the meet¬
ings of the League or in discussing any matter
during its sessions. This is the most effective step
ever taken to rehabilitate the Irish Language.
The exclusive use of the language at the meetings
of the League will improve the range of speech and
fire the youthful mind with ardor to cultivate a
literary knowledge of it so as to excel in it; and
as no money is necessary for the purposes of the
League those who would injure it can found no
scandal in that regard.
Now, here in Eire Whor, Gaels never had such
an opportunity to leave their mark in Gaelic liter¬
ature, or impress their own individuality, as a re-
issue, so to speak, of the Iris programme places
in their hands, and we are them to commence as
soon as can be We think the following mode of
proceeding the most effective. —
The Gael workers in every city and town where
a dozen or more Irish speaking persons, men and
women, reside, to enroll as many of them in the
Gaelic League as they could reach, explaining its
object to them, and telling them that there is no
monetary expense attached to it. Having comple¬
ted an enrollment such as would secure the pres¬
ence of a tolerably fair audience, the worker then
should prepare a Lecture on the Gaelic Revival
and, when completed, call a meeting of his club
and deliver it before the members. After the lec¬
ture the audience should resolve itself into a bu¬
siness meeting, elect a board of officers, and dis¬
cuss their future plan of action.
Now, any intelligent Irish speaker can prepare
a lecture and write it so as to be able to read it
himself, or, at least, the headings of the points
he wishes to discuss. All our public speakers note
their speeches.
Persons unacquainted with the language should
not be admitted to League meetings, our expe¬
rience is that they create disorder.
In canvassing for members Leaguers may meet
ignorant, semi Anglicized, unpatriotic Irishmen
who may turn up their noses at them. In such in¬
stances let the Leaguer simply point to the ex¬
tracts from Spalding on the Gael's sub-title page
In initiating the Gaelic League here as above
indicated — after the home model — we name cities
by states where Gaels able to meet its require¬
ments reside. —
Ala., Mobile. Mr M'Cosker has all needed ma¬
terial.
Ariz. Clifton, Mr. Whelan
Cal. Petaluma, McCarthy, McGrath, Cronin,
Port Costa, Casey, and a score of others, San
Francisco, there is material beyond count there.
Colo, Brother Kennedy has all the materials he
needs about Denver and Red Mountain.
Conn. New Haven. We merely suggest here
that our venerable brother Callaghan can deliver
as eloquent an address as any one we know, and
the Major can be depended to do the rest. Hart¬
ford, Messrs. Cross, O'Brien, Buckley, etc, can
start right away for they and their friends make a
good club. Williamantic, Messrs O'Regan and
O'Day.
Del. Wilmington, the Messrs. McEvilly, Mul¬
rooneys and Keville.
Ga. Savannah is in good hands. Messrs. Kill¬
oury and O'Brien will attend to it, and their be¬
loved Bishop will help them,
Idaho City, P O'Riordan will attend to that.
Ill. Chicago. There are so many there qualified
to act that we expect a dozen clubs in it. Apple
River, Mr Ed Sweeney. Cairo is in goods hands
with Mr Howley and his patriotic friends.
Ind. Washington. If Ed Brady is alive there
he will attend to it, and perhaps Rev. Brother A¬
loysius would know some one in Indianapolis.
Ia. Mr Hagerty will see to Burlington, and Mr.
Callaghan to Council Bluffs, and Mr Powers and
friends to Vail.
Kan. Mr Higgins and friends can form branch
in Armourdale, and Messrs. Downey, Dillon, etc.
in Lincoln Centre.
