t might be remembered that Germany is possibly better equipped,
intellectually and educationally, for the task of developing Ireland
than even 20th century England. She has already faced a remarkable
problem, and largely solved it in her forty years' administration of
Alsace-Lorraine. There is a province torn by force from the bleeding
side of France and alien in sentiment to her new masters to a degree
that Ireland could not be to any changes of authority imposed upon her
from without, has, within a short lifetime, doubled in prosperity and
greatly increased her population, despite the open arms and insistent
call of France, and despite a rule denounced from the first as
hateful.
However hateful, the Prussian has proved himself an able administrator
and an honest and most capable instructor. In his strong hands
Strasburg has expanded from being an ill-kept, pent-in French garrison
town to a great and beautiful city. Already a local Parliament
gives to the population a sense of autonomy, while the palace and
constant presence of an Imperial prince affirms the fact that German
Imperialism, far from engrossing and centralizing all the activities
and powers of the empire in Berlin, recognizes that German nationality
is large enough and great enough to admit of many capitals, many
individualities, and many separate State growths within the sure
compass of one great organism.
That an Ireland severed by force of arms from the British Empire and
annexed to the German Empire would be ill-governed by her new masters
is inconceivable. On the contrary, the ablest brains in Germany,
scientific, commercial, and financial, no less than military and
strategic, would be devoted to the great task of making sure the
conquest not only of an island but of the intelligence of a not
unintelligent people, and by wisely developing so priceless a
possession to reconcile its inhabitants through growing prosperity and
an excellent administration, to so great a change in their political
environment. Can it be said that England, even in her most lucid
intervals, has brought to the Government of Ireland her best efforts,
her most capable men, or her highest purpose? The answer may be given
by Li Hung Chang, whose diary we have so lately read. Recording his
interview with Mr. Gladstone, the Chinese statesman says: "He spoke
about ... Ireland; and I was certain that he hoped to see that unhappy
country governed better before he died. 'They have gi
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