But in each and every case its quality is purely spiritual, or,
if you will, purely psychological. It is a moment when five men
become a sixth man. Every one knows it who has ever founded
a club. It is a moment when five places become one place.
Every one must know it who has ever had to repel an invasion.
Mr. Timothy Healy, the most serious intellect in the present
House of Commons, summed up nationality to perfection when
he simply called it something for which people will die,
As he excellently said in reply to Lord Hugh Cecil, "No one,
not even the noble lord, would die for the meridian of Greenwich."
And that is the great tribute to its purely psychological character.
It is idle to ask why Greenwich should not cohere in this spiritual
manner while Athens or Sparta did. It is like asking why a man
falls in love with one woman and not with another.

Now, of this great spiritual coherence, independent of external
circumstances, or of race, or of any obvious physical thing, Ireland is
the most remarkable example. Rome conquered nations, but Ireland
has conquered races. The Norman has gone there and become Irish,
the Scotchman has gone there and become Irish, the Spaniard has gone
there and become Irish, even the bitter soldier of Cromwell has gone
there and become Irish. Ireland, which did not exist even politically,
has been stronger than all the races that existed scientifically.
The purest Germanic blood, the purest Norman blood, the purest
blood of the passionate Scotch patriot, has not been so attractive
as a nation without a flag. Ireland, unrecognized and oppressed,
has easily absorbed races, as such trifles are easily absorbed.
She has easily disposed of physical science, as such superstitions
are easily disposed of. Nationality in its weakness has been
stronger than ethnology in its strength. Five triumphant races