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Ireland In The New Century By: Horace Curzon Plunkett (1854-1932) |
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IN THE NEW CENTURY
BY THE RIGHT HON. SIR HORACE PLUNKETT, K.C.V.O., F.R.S.
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1904 Printed by BROWNE AND NOLAN, LTD., Dublin TO THE MEMORY OF W.E.H. LECKY,
I DEDICATE ALL IN THIS BOOK
THAT IS WORTHY OF THE FRIENDSHIP
WITH WHICH HE HONOURED ME,
AND OF THE COUNSEL WHICH HE GAVE ME
FOR MY GUIDANCE IN IRISH PUBLIC LIFE.
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... Continue reading book >>
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Politics |
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