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Show ' "The Boers insisted on having their ' language taught in the public schools i as one of the conditions of peace. It is said these farmers are not educated ; men. If that is so they know a trutli : which the Irish are slow to learn. They know that their nationality would pass away with their language and they do : not wish to lose easilythat for which they fought so bravely and well. Cannot Can-not the editors of Irish papers in the United States see anything worth remembering re-membering in this language condition of the Boer peace terms?" San Francisco Fran-cisco Leader. The editors of Irish papers in the United States can see no parallel in their case with that of the Boers, nor did the whole Irish nation see any great necessity of retaining their ' mother tongue till within the last de- ; cade of years, when the revival began. A quarter of a century ago it was ; I considered a disgrace among the cod- fish aristocracy and Shooneens of Ire- land to speak their native tongue. Fifty years ago children attending the hedge schools were warned by the old pedagogues not to speak or express themselves in Irish from the time they left school till they returned next day. Of this fact the Leader is fully cognizant cogniz-ant and should direct his fiery arrows T ; to the home teachings of years past and : r,ot to the "editors of Irish papers in I ; the United States." All efforts to sad- ; die the difficulty on editors in this coun- i try is mar. oadh. There is an.old Irish j poem which is very applicable to some 1 editors. One veise is sufficient to quote: ' , "They spout patriotism, too, I But faith between me and you f They have something else in view. ; ' ' Says the Shan Van Vocht. |
