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ICRAITRRU60 - VALERIO DI STEFANO or Privacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms and Conditions Ireland in the New Century<h4>Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition</h4>
<h1>Ireland in the New Century</h1>
<h2>Author: Horace Plunkett</h2>
<hr>
<h2>PREFACE</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 way striving for the upbuilding
of a worthy national life in Ireland.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>PART 1. THEORETICAL.</h2><i>It is hard to say where history ends, and where
religion and politics begin; for history, religion and politics grow
on one stem in Ireland, an eternal trefoil.’’<p align="right">—<em>Lady Gregory.</em></p></i>
<h2>PART 2. PRACTICAL.</h2><i>For a country so attractive and a people so gifted
we cherish the warmest regard, and it is, therefore with supreme
satisfaction that I have during our stay so often heard the hope
expressed that a brighter day is dawning upon Ireland. I shall
eagerly await the fulfilment of this hope. Its realisation will,
under Divine Providence, depend largely upon the steady development of
self-reliance and co-operation upon better and more practical education, upon the growth of industrial and commercial enterprise, and
upon that increase of mutual toleration and respect which the
responsibility my Irish people now enjoy in the public administration
of their local affairs is well-fitted to teach.’’<p align="right">— <cite>Message of the King to the Irish People</cite>. , 1st
August, 1903.</p></i><h3 align="center"><a href="../E900004-001.html">The complete text for non-framing browsers</a></h3>