CONTENTS ESSAYS 20 240 TURE 121 148 PRELATE AND PROFESSOR ON IRISH POLITICS AN IRISH LEADER AND A SINN FEIN Plea . I ONE REASON FOR THE IRISH PROBLEM THE stirring of new forces in the world to-day is of good omen for Ireland. Irishmen of all political opinions are agreed that their country was most distinguished during the centuries after the introduction of Christianity, when Irish missioners journeyed to distant parts of Europe, taking with them the fervor of the Irish spirit, and preaching the Gospel. Now that Ireland again has opportunity for service to mankind in a new world, she must be worthy her noble tradition, appearing with that "walk of a queen” which Mr. Yeats has ascribed to his symbolic Cathleen ni Houlihan. Most writers about Ireland have concerned themselves with her relations with England; few, even among those loudest in proclaiming her a nation, have discussed Ireland as part of a world family. Yet only when she is considered from the point of view of European history can her story be fully understood; only then does her nationality appear individual and is her contribution to civilization clearly discernible. The endeavor to look at Ireland's relations with other countries from the Irish point of view involves the effort of looking at the |