ST. PATRICK
above stated. The Romans, Celts, and Germans
have so commingled with each other on the con-
tinent of Europe and in Great Britain, that it is
almost impossible to say what is peculiar to each
and what borrowed. The fully developed judicial,
fiscal, and administrative systems of the Romans
have, as might have been expected, deeply modified
the political and social organization of the Gauls,
Britons, and Germans. The only branch of the
Celtic race not directly in contact with this highly
developed political organization was the Irish. That
Ireland was not entirely unaffected by Roman civili-
zation, and even by the earlier civilization of other
Mediterranean nations in pre-Christian times, is
undoubtedly true. But that influence was not such
as could deeoly modify the laws or customs of the
people; and hence in them we ought to find a pre-
cious mine of information regarding the political and
social organization of Europe before the rise of
the Roman power. Fortunately we possess in the
remains of the Irish language, poetry, laws, etc.
such a mine, and in greater fullness, too, than is
found in other branches of the Aryan race, except
the Sanskrit, Greek and Latin.”
In a word the Irish because of their independence
politically especially as regards the Roman empire
and their sufficiency for themselves and originality
in literature, art and law, as the remains that have
come down to us attest, deserve a place beside the
three great races of ancient times. The preserva-
tion of all that is best among the old Irish is due
more to St. Patrick than to anyone else. This is
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