in Ireland would operate once there was no longer interference
in our internal affairs, to allay and keep in order these turbulent
elements which exist in every country, but which only become a danger to
society when real grievances based on the violation of true principles
of government are present.

16. The Union has failed absolutely to conciliate Ireland. Every
generation there have been rebellions and shootings and agitations of
a vehement and exhausting character carried continually to the point
of lawlessness before Irish grievances could be redressed. A form of
government which requires a succession of rebellions to secure
reforms afterwards admitted to be reasonable cannot be a good form of
government. These agitations have inflicted grave material and
moral injury on Ireland. The instability of the political system has
prejudiced natural economic development. Capital will not be invested
in industries where no one is certain about the future. And because
the will of the people was so passionately set on political freedom an
atmosphere of suspicion gathered around public movements which in other
countries would have been allowed to carry on their beneficent work
unhindered by any party. Here they were continually being forced to
declare themselves either for or against self-government. The long
attack on the movement for the organization of Irish agriculture was
an instance. Men are elected on public bodies not because they are
efficient administrators, but because they can be trusted to pass
resolutions favoring one party or another. This has led to corruption.
Every conceivable rascality in Ireland has hid itself behind the great
names of nation or empire. The least and the most harmless actions of
men engaged in philanthropic or educational work or social reform are
scrutinized and criticized so as to obstruct good work. If a phrase even
suggests the possibility of a political partiality, or a tendency to
anything which might be construed by the most suspicious scrutineer to
indicate a remote desire to use the work done as an argument either
for or against self-government the man or movement is never allowed to
forget it. Public service becomes intolerable and often impossible
under such conditions, and while the struggle continues this also will
continue to the moral detriment of the people. There are only two forms
of government possible. A people may either be governed by force or may
govern themselves. T