The United Kingdom is composed of four distinct nationalities. Each of
these has retained its own distinct character, its own national history,
its own patriotism and self-respect. Their affairs, great and small,
general or local, are administered by one Parliament in which each is
fully represented. A large majority of the Irish people have, however,
asked that in addition to some representation in the united Parliament
they shall be granted a local Parliament for the management of their own
internal affairs. The fact that this demand, which has an important
imperial as well as local bearing, has not yet been complied with has
constantly been used by the enemies of the Entente Powers to represent
as false and hypocritical the claims of those Powers to be regarded as
the champions of the rights of small nationalities; and the case of
Ireland has been compared with that of Prussian Poland, as though the
peoples of these two countries were suffering the same kind of
oppression, the same injustice, the same denial of the right of every
man to live and prosper in his own land on equal terms with his
fellow-citizens in every other part of the realm.
The best answer to this charge is to tell plainly, without contention or
exaggeration, what the united Parliament has done for Ireland since the
beginning of the period of reform nearly fifty years ago. That is what
is here attempted, so far as it can be done in a few pages. It must be
fully understood that on the Home Rule question the present statement
has no bearing whatever. That difficult problem lies in an altogether
different sphere of politics, and must he judged by considerations which
cannot be touched on here. Without, however, trenching in any degree on
controversial ground, it may be pointed out that the crucial difficulty
of the Home Rule question lies, and has always lain, in the fact that in
Ireland a substantial and important minority amounting to about 25 per
cent. of the population, and differing from the rest of the country in
religion, national traditions, and economic development, has hitherto
been resolutely opposed to passing from the immediate government of the
imperial Parliament to that of any other body. This minority being, for
the most part, grouped together in the North-east counties, the late
Government attempted to solve the difficulty by offering immediate Home
Rule to that section of Ireland which desires it, while leaving the
remainder as it is until Parliament should otherwise decree. This
proposal was rejected by the general opinion of Nationalist Ireland,
which was firmly opposed to the partition of the country for any
indefinite period. The question, therefore, remains for the present in
suspense, until a solution can be found which will not only ensure the
integrity and security of the Empire but reconcile the conflicting
desires and interests of Irishmen themselves.