A Timely Move

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 20, 14 May 1903, Page 1

A Timely Move

We are firm believers in the gospel of pegging away. Some weeks ago, for instance, we returned, for the eleventy-'leventh time, to what is in more senses than one an evergreen topic : the spasms and antics of that unregenerate barbarian, the stage Irishman. We are glad to see that the central council of the Hibernian Society has got the jabbering idiot by the ear. A resolution on the subject was moved by Mr. Beehan, of Auckland, at the recent H.A.C.B.S. conference in Sydney. It was unanimously passed, and the report of the assembled delegates contains the following remarks in point :

'We might also consider whether we could not do something to banish at least from our Catholic concerts and other entertainments that monstrous travesty on our race known as the " Stage Irishman." We are glad that owing to the sturdy action of the American Hibernians such vulgar, insulting caricaturing of our countrymen is no longer tolerated on the American stage ; and surely in Australia, where the Irish element of the population is proportionately more numerous, the same result could be accomplished.'

Hear, hear ! It now only remains for the Society, having begun the crusade, to see it through, and not let their first fervor in the cause die out and be hung up ' Like a rusty mail In monumental mockery.'

We think that they can safely count for cordial co-opera-tion on the part of the promoters of Catholic concerts and entertainments. And that will afford «, good leverage for further operations against the rough-and tumble caricature of a faithful and much-tried Catholic people.