ns fixed on a scale
grossly inequitable drove her into bankruptcy; that from 1819 until two
years ago, she paid, by dint of excessive taxation and in spite of
terrible economic depression, a considerable share, and sometimes more
than her proportionate share, of Imperial expenditure;[82] if, finally,
we remember that, cash payments apart, Irishmen for centuries past have
taken an important part in manning the Army and Navy, have fought and
died on innumerable battle-fields in the service of the Empire, and have
contributed some of its ablest military leaders; if we consider all
these facts soberly and reasonably, we shall, I believe, agree that it
would be fair and right to place a Home Ruled Ireland in the position of
a self-governing Colony, with a moral obligation to contribute, when her
means permit, and in proportion to her means, but without a statutory
and compulsory tribute.

What form should that contribution eventually take? Does it necessarily
follow that Ireland should be given power to construct her own Navy, and
raise and control her own troops? Let us use our common sense, and use
it, let me add, fearlessly. If Ireland really _wanted_ full colonial
powers, if, like Australia and Canada, she would be discontented and
resentful at their denial, we should be wise to grant them, and rely on
common interests and affections to secure friendly co-operation. Does it
not stand to reason that a friendly alliance even with a foreign power,
such as France, to say nothing of the far more intimate relations with a
consanguineous Colony, is better business than any arrangement for
common forces unwillingly or resentfully acceded to? But, as I pointed
out in Chapter VIII., all these uneasy speculations about independent
Irish armaments are superfluous. Ireland does not want separate
armaments. The sporadic attempts to discourage enlistment in the
Imperial forces are, as every sensible person should recognize, the
results of refusing Home Rule. They would have occurred in every Colony
under similar circumstances, and they do occur in one degree or another
wherever countries agitate vainly for Home Rule. If Russia misinterprets
such phenomena, we have, let us hope, more political enlightenment than
Russia.

Ireland's strategical situation bears no analogy to that of Australia
and Canada, which, for geographical reasons, are compelled, as South
Africa will be compelled, to make a certain amount of independent
provision, n