OCR Text |
Show Irish Eatiguage Restored. ((Translated from the Yatin by Eneas B. Goodwin.) The following articles on the restoration restor-ation of the Irish language was written in Latin by II. Doswald, and appeared in the Roman paper Vox Urbis last month: I do not know of anyother nation in the whole world which has been oppressed op-pressed by so many miseries and hardships hard-ships as the Irish nation has borne for so many years. Hardly had the country coun-try come under the influence of the Christian law when it was invaded by the Danes, and they being repulsed were succeeded by the English, who brought the beautiful island under their sway. Ireland, then, having been defeated in many battles, the inhabitants inhabit-ants were reduced to the condition of serfs, and their lands became the property prop-erty of the English government. Finally Fi-nally Henry VIII, notorious for his centiousness and an apostate from the Catholic religion, attempted to mak the Irish also apostatize from their faith. The king, indeed, attempted to do this; but the Irish people resisted, and they have resisted until this day; indeed, they have so. completely resisted resist-ed this attempt that when a man says I he is an Irishman immediately every one thinks that he is a Catholic. But it would take entirely too much space were I to attempt to narrate all the sufferings the Irish people endured during dur-ing those years; this, however, is worthy of note; the English strove by every means in their power to break asunder the two bonds by which Ireland Ire-land was made a nation. These two bonds were ihe language, pecuiar to the people, and the education of the j children; for the English, knew that j when these two are broken immediately either the race perishes, or its own proper rights having been lost, the whole idea of nationality disappears, so that there remains nothing to preserve pre-serve what is distinctly national. The English, therefore, clearly seeing this, enacted pena laws forbidding the further fur-ther use of the Irish language, and commanding that the English language and English literature alone be taught in the schools. The Irish schools were abolished: the monastic asylums of doctrines and letters were swept away, so that the Irish, who in former times were most learned and skilled in the literary , arts, gradually became illiterate illiter-ate and no longer participators in the progress of literate. Thus through the work of the English have the Irish for their unavoidable rudeness become a butt for gibes' and sneers. . The Irish language, then, neglected and fallen into disuse, has, on account of the scattering scat-tering of the people over many lands, almost tceased to be known. But of late years the Irish people have .adverted to the fact that their language was fast falling from view, and seeing that through the efforts of ' the English not only their language, but their nationality also, would soon !' . pass into the depths of oblivion, they ' have organized societies wherein all who are able should strive to restore ; ' the old language and customs. Those ' who started the movement were re- f ceived with much applause, and in a short time have established the society that is now known by the name of "National." In America the work of the society is carried on in the follow- : ing manner: A president elected at a general meeting sends representatives ' to the districts where Irish people re- side, and they gather the sons and! daughters of Irishmen every Sunday . afternoon in some convenient hall, and-there and-there teach them the Irish language and the history of Ireland. At the meetings, also, by the way of recrea- ! tion, the old flute music of Ireland i3 rendered. In this way those who have sprung from Irish parents, and although al-though at a long distance fro mthe home country, may become inbued with, the Irish spirit, and may become faithful faith-ful children of Irish soil. Very often, too, when I attend these schools I cannot can-not help but wonder at the zeal which the pupils show, and at the facility with which they learn the language. What strength may be found in them, and what power may become apparent when this society is firmly established ! ' everywhere in the United States! In San Francisco there is published a ' weekly newspaper in Irish and English, Eng-lish, la many of the larger cities . : courts have been founded, and there Irish speeches, songs and dances are s rendered, so that the love of country ' i thence arising is forming a strong bond ; uniting closely all Irishmen. The Irish language will soon become ' a living language again, the Irish customs cus-toms will be revived, and there then will be obtained a basis for the hope-that hope-that the nation will not perish; but that freed from servitude the Irish will ; become a great and glorious race again. This is my wish, and the wish of many others, both American and foreign, and may through the help of the Almighty this wish soon be realized! |