Chapter I: Preface

Those who have known Ireland for the last dozen years cannot have failed to notice the advent of a wholly new spirit, clearly based upon constructive thought, and expressing itself in a wide range of fresh practical activities. The movement for the organisation of agriculture and rural credit on co-operative lines, efforts of various kinds to revive old or initiate new industries, and, lastly, the creation of a department of Government to foster all that was healthy in the voluntary effort of the people to build up the economic side of their life, are each interesting in themselves. When taken together, and in conjunction with the literary and artistic movements, and viewed in their relation to history, politics, religion, education, and the other past and present influences operating upon the Irish mind and character, these movements appear to me to be worthy of the most thoughtful consideration by all who are responsible for, or desire the well-being of the Irish people.

I should not, however, in days when my whole time and energies belong to the public service, have undertaken the task of writing a book on a subject so complex and apparently so inseparable from heated controversy, were I not convinced that the expression of certain thoughts which have come to me from practical contact with Irish problems, was the best contribution I could make to the work on which I was engaged. I wished, if I could, to bring into clearer light the essential unity of the various progressive movements in Ireland, and to do something towards promoting a greater definiteness of aim and method, and a better understanding of each other's work, among those who are in various ways striving for the upbuilding of a worthy national life in Ireland.

So far the task, if difficult, was congenial and free from embarrassment. Unhappily, it had been borne in upon me, in the course of a long study of Irish life, that our failure to rise to our opportunities and to give practical evidence of the intellectual qualities with which the race is admittedly gifted, was due to certain defects of character, not ethically grave, but economically paralysing. I need hardly say I refer to the lack of moral courage, initiative, independence and self-reliance--defects which, however they may be accounted for, it is the first duty of modern Ireland to recognise and overcome. I believe in the new movements in Ireland, principally because they seem to me to exert a stimulating influence upon our moral fibre.

Holding such an opinion, I had to decide between preserving a discreet silence and speaking my full mind. The former course would, it appeared to me, be a poor example of the moral courage which I hold to be Ireland's sorest need. Moreover, while I am full of hope for the future of my country, its present condition does not, in my view, admit of any delay in arriving at the truth as to the essential principles which should guide all who wish to take a part, however humble, in the work of national regeneration.

I desire to state definitely that I have not written in any representative capacity except where I say so explicitly. I write on my own responsibility, with the full knowledge that there is much in the book with which many of those with whom I work do not agree.

_December_, 1903.

CONTENTS

PART I.

_THEORETICAL._

CHAPTER I

THE ENGLISH MISUNDERSTANDING.

Fidelity of the Irish to the National Ideal
Disregard of Material Advantage in its Pursuit
Home Rule Movement under Gladstone
The Anti-Climax under Lord Rosebery
The Logic of Events and the Dawn of the Practical
The Mutual Misunderstanding of England and Ireland
The Dunraven Conference produces a Revolution in English Thought
about Ireland
The Actual Change Examined
Future Misunderstanding best averted by considering Nature of
Anti-English Feeling
Illustration from Irish-American Life
Importance of Sentiment in Ireland--English Habit of Ignoring
Historical Grievances Still Operative
The Commercial Restrictions--Remaining Effects of
Irish Land Tenure--Lord Dufferin on
Defects of Land Laws--Their Effect on Agriculture
Right Attitude towards Historic Grievances
Plea for Broader and more Philosophic View of Irish Question
Simple Explanations and Panaceas Deprecated
A Many-Sided Human Problem

CHAPTER II.

THE IRISH QUESTION IN IRELAND.

Misunderstanding of the Irish People by the English and by Themselves
Anomalies of Irish Life
The New Movement--Position of Nationalists and Unionists in it
North and South
The Question of Rural Life
Economic Side of the Question
Grazing versus Tillage
Peasant Organisation to be Supplemented by State-Aid
Uneconomic Holdings too Prevalent
Remedies Proposed
Salvation not by Agriculture Alone
Rural Industries and the Irish Home
Reasons for Arrested Development of Home Life
Inter-Dependence of the Sentimental and Practical in Ireland
Outlines of Succeeding Chapters

CHAPTER III.

THE INFLUENCE OF POLITICS UPON THE IRISH MIND.

Legislation as a Substitute for Work
Political Shortcomings of Unionism and Nationalism Compared
Action of the Unionist Party Reviewed
Two Main Causes of its Lack of Success
The Contribution of Ulster
The Nationalist Party
Are Irishmen Good Politicians?
The Irish and the Scotch-Irish in America
America's Interest in the Problem
Part Played by English Government in Producing Modern Irish Disabilities
Causes of the Growth of National Feeling
Retardation of Political Education by the One-Man System
And by Politicians of To-Day
Defence of Nationalist Policy on Ground of Tactics Considered
The Forces opposed to Home Rule--How Dealt with
Local Government--How it might have been utilised
After Home Rule?
Beginnings of Political Education
The Irish Parliamentary Party

CHAPTER IV.

THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION UPON SECULAR LIFE IN IRELAND.

Influences of Religion in Ireland
What is Toleration?
Protestantism in Irish Life
Roman Catholicism and Economics
Power of the Roman Catholic Clergy
Has it been Abused?
Church Building and Monastic Establishments
Clerical Education
Responsibility of the Clergy for Irish Character
The Church and Temperance
The Inculcation of Chastity
The Priest in Politics
New Movement among the Roman Catholic Clergy
Duty and Interest of Protestantism
What each Creed has to Learn from the other

CHAPTER V.

A PRACTICAL VIEW OF IRISH EDUCATION.

English Government and Education
The Kildare Street Society
Scheme of Thomas Wyse
Early Attempts at Practical Education
Recent Reports on Irish Systems
The Policy of the Department of Agriculture
The Example of Denmark
University Education for Roman Catholics
Maynooth and its Limitations
Trinity College
Its Lack of Influence on the Irish Mind
A Democratic University Called for
National and Economic in its Aims
Views of Roman Catholic Ecclesiastics
The Two Irelands
Lord Chesterfield on Education and Character

CHAPTER VI.

THROUGH THOUGHT TO ACTION.

A Word to my Critics
The Gaelic League
Compared with the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society
Objects and Constitution of the League
Filling the Gap in Irish Education
Patriotism and Industry
Nationality and Nationalism
A Possible Danger
Extravagances in the Movement
The Gaelic League and the Rural Home
Meeting with Harold Frederic
His Pessimistic Views on the Celt
A New Solution of the Problem--Organised Self-Help
English and Irish Industrial Qualities
Special Value of the Associative Qualities
Conclusion of Part I.

* * * * *

PART II.

_PRACTICAL._

CHAPTER VII.

THE NEW MOVEMENT; ITS FOUNDATION ON SELF-HELP.

Distrust of Novel Schemes often well justified
The Story of the New Movement
Necessitated by Foreign Competition
Production and Distribution
Causes of Continental Superiority
Objects for which Combination is Desirable
How to Organise the Industrial Army
Help from England
Doubts and Difficulties
Some Favouring Conditions
The Beginning of the Work--Co-operative Creameries
The Social Problem
Early Efforts and Experiences
Foundation of the I.A.O.S.
Its Present Position
Agricultural Banks
The Brightening of Home Life
Staff of the Society
Philanthropy and Business
Enquiries from Abroad
Moral and Social Effects of the New Movement
Unknown Leaders

CHAPTER VIII.

THE RECESS COMMITTEE.

After Six Years
Opportunity for State-Aid
Combination of Political and Industrial Leadership
A Letter to the Press
Mr. Justin McCarthy's Reply
Mr. Redmond's Reply
Formation of the Committee
Investigations on the Continent
Recommendations of the Committee
Position of the Nationalist Members of the Committee
Chief Reliance on Local Effort
Public Opinion on the New Proposals
Adoption of the Bill to give effect to them
Mr. Gerald Balfour's Policy
Industrial Home Rule

CHAPTER IX.

A NEW DEPARTURE IN IRISH ADMINISTRATION.

Functions and Constitution of the New Department
How it is Financed
The Representative Element in its Constitution
The Right to Vote Supplies
Consultative Committee on Education
The Department Linked with the Local Government System
Successful Co-operation with Local Government Bodies
And with Voluntary Societies
The New Department and the Congested Districts Board
The Reception of the Department by the Country
Some Typical Callers
A Wrong Impression Anticipated

CHAPTER X.

GOVERNMENT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.

Summary of Previous Chapter
The Attitude of the People towards the Department
Method of Co-operation with Local Bodies
State-Aid, Direct and Indirect
The Department and the Large Towns
The Department's Plans for Developing Agriculture
The Industrial Problem and Education
The Difficulty of Finding Trained Teachers
How Surmounted
Difficulties of Agricultural Education
Decision to Adopt Itinerant Instruction
Double Purpose of this Instruction
Relation of the Department with Secondary Schools
Importance of Domestic Economy Teaching
Provision of Teachers in Domestic Economy
Miscellaneous Industries
Competition of the Factory
The Department's Fabian Policy Justified
Its Support by the Country
Improvement of Live-Stock
Best Method of giving Object Lessons in Agriculture
Sea Fisheries
Continental Tours for Irish Teachers
Cork Exhibition of 1902
Things and Ideas
Concluding Words

INDEX