or the good of
the whole country, you will find liberality, open-mindedness,
brotherhood, and keen, intelligent patriotism from Ulsterman and
Southerners alike. The atmosphere is not political. But you will come
away with a sense of the absurdity, of the insolence, of saying that a
country which can produce and conduct fine movements like this is
_unfit_ for self-government. I should add a word about a new
organization which only came into being this year, and which also has
its home at Plunkett House, the United Irishwomen, whose aim, in their
own words, is to "unite Irishwomen for the social and economic advantage
of Ireland." "They intend to organize the women of all classes in every
rural district in Ireland for social service. These bodies will discuss,
and, if need be, take action upon any and every matter which concerns
the welfare of society in their several localities. So far as women's
knowledge and influence will avail, they will strive for a higher
standard of material comfort and physical well-being in the country
home, a more advanced agricultural economy, and a social existence a
little more in harmony with the intellect and temperament of our
people." Anyone who wants to understand something of the spirit of the
new self-reliant Ireland which is springing up to-day should read the
thrilling little pamphlet (I cannot describe it otherwise) from which I
quote these words, and which introduced the United Irish-women to the
world, with its preface by Father T.A. Finlay, and its essays by Mrs.
Ellice Pilkington, Sir Horace Plunkett, and Mr. George W. Russell,
better known as "AE," poet, painter, and Editor of the Co-operative
weekly, the _Irish Homestead_. Nor can I leave this part of my subject
without referring to that amazing little journal. No other newspaper in
the world that I know of bears upon it so deep an impress of genius.
There are no "politics," in the Irish sense, in it. It would be
impossible to infer from its pages how the Editor voted. What fascinates
the reader is the shrewd and witty analysis of Irish problems, the high
range of vision which exposes the shortcomings and reveals the
illimitable possibilities of a regenerated Ireland and the ceaseless and
implacable war waged by the Editor upon all pettiness, melancholy, and
pessimism.

What the Agricultural Organization Society is doing for agriculture the
Industrial Development Associations, formed only in quite recent years,
are doing, in