h would secure
vastly increased efficiency and leave the teaching of denominational
religion uninjured. Other countries, where the same religions exist side
by side, have attained that compromise. Ireland will be judged by her
success in attaining it.

Another important question is the treatment of the Congested Districts.
More than a third of Ireland is now under the benevolent jurisdiction of
a despotic Board.[62] So long as its funds are raised from general
Imperial taxation, the inevitable tendency is to shirk the thorough
discussion of this grave subject, to lay the responsibility on Great
Britain, to acquiesce in a policy of extreme paternalism, and to appeal
for higher and higher doles from the Treasury. This cannot go on.
Whoever, in the eyes of Divine Justice, was originally responsible for
the condition of the submerged west, and for the ruin of the evicted
tenants, Ireland, if she wants Home Rule, must shoulder the
responsibility herself, and think out the whole question independently.
The Congested Districts Board has done, and continues to do, good work
in the purchase and resettlement of estates; but even in this sphere
there are wide differences of opinion as to the proper methods and
policy to be employed, especially with regard to the division of
grasslands and the migration of landless men. Its other remedial work
(part of which is now taken over by the Department of Agriculture under
the Land Act of 1909), in encouraging fisheries, industries, and farm
improvements out of State money, is open to criticism on the ground of
its tendency to pauperize and weaken character. I do not care to
pronounce on the controversy, though I think that there is much to be
said for the view that money is best spent by encouraging agricultural
co-operation. Many able and distinguished men have devoted their minds
to the subject, but it is plain that Ireland as a whole has not thought,
and cannot think, the matter out in a responsible spirit, and that the
only way of reaching a truly Irish decision is through an Irish
Parliament, which both raises and votes money for the purpose.[63] The
reinstatement of evicted tenants teems with practical difficulties which
can only be solved in the same way. As long as Great Britain remains
responsible, errors are liable to be made which one day may be deeply
regretted.

The same observation applies to all future land legislation, not
excepting Land Purchase, which I deal with fully