Those who have known Ireland for the last dozen years cannot have failedto notice the advent of a wholly new spirit, clearly based uponconstructive thought, and expressing itself in a wide range of freshpractical activities. The movement for the organisation of agricultureand rural credit on co-operative lines, efforts of various kinds torevive old or initiate new industries, and, lastly, the creation of adepartment of Government to foster all that was healthy in the voluntaryeffort of the people to build up the economic side of their life, areeach interesting in themselves. When taken together, and in conjunctionwith the literary and artistic movements, and viewed in their relationto history, politics, religion, education, and the other past andpresent influences operating upon the Irish mind and character, thesemovements appear to me to be worthy of the most thoughtful considerationby all who are responsible for, or desire the well-being of the Irishpeople.
I should not, however, in days when my whole time and energies belong tothe public service, have undertaken the task of writing a book on asubject so complex and apparently so inseparable from heatedcontroversy, were I not convinced that the expression of certainthoughts which have come to me from practical contact with Irishproblems, was the best contribution I could make to the work on which Iwas engaged. I wished, if I could, to bring into clearer light theessential unity of the various progressive movements in Ireland, and todo something towards promoting a greater definiteness of aim and method,and a better understanding of each other's work, among those who are invarious ways striving for the upbuilding of a worthy national life inIreland.
So far the task, if difficult, was congenial and free fromembarrassment. Unhappily, it had been borne in upon me, in the course ofa long study of Irish life, that our failure to rise to ouropportunities and to give practical evidence of the intellectualqualities with which the race is admittedly gifted, was due to certaindefects 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 beaccounted for, it is the first duty of modern Ireland to recognise andovercome. I believe in the new movements in Ireland, principally becausethey seem to me to exert a stimulating influence upon our moral fibre.
Holding such an opinion, I had to decide between preserving a discreetsilence and speaking my full mind. The former course would, it appearedto me, be a poor example of the moral courage which I hold to beIreland's sorest need. Moreover, while I am full of hope for the futureof my country, its present condition does not, in my view, admit of anydelay in arriving at the truth as to the essential principles whichshould guide all who wish to take a part, however humble, in the work ofnational regeneration.
I desire to state definitely that I have not written in anyrepresentative capacity except where I say so explicitly. I write on myo