I am often asked, What are the best books to read on the Irish question?
and I never fail to mention Mr. Lecky's _Leaders of Public Opinion in
Ireland_ and the _History of England in the Eighteenth Century_; Mr.
Goldwin Smith's _Irish History and Irish Character, Three English
Statesmen, The Irish Question_, and Professor Dicey's admirable work,
_England's Case against Home Rule_.
Indeed, the case for Home Rule, as stated in these books, is
unanswerable; and it redounds to the credit of Mr. Lecky, Mr. Goldwin
Smith, and Mr. Dicey that their narrative of facts should in no wise be
prejudiced by their political opinions.
That their facts are upon one side and their opinions on the other is a
minor matter. Their facts, I venture to assert, have made more Home
Rulers than their opinions can unmake.
To put this assertion to the test I propose to quote some extracts from
the works above mentioned. These extracts shall be full and fair.
Nothing shall be left out that can in the slightest degree qualify any
statement of fact in the context. Arguments will be omitted, for I wish
to place facts mainly before my readers. From these facts they can draw
their own conclusions. Neither shall I take up space with comments of my
own. I shall call my witnesses and let them speak for themselves.