with Great Britain. The Premier of a Coalition Cabinet has declared
that there is no measure of self government which Great Britain
would not assent to being set up in Ireland, if Irishmen themselves
could but come to an agreement. Before such a compromise between
Irish parties is possible there must be a clear understanding of
the ideals of these parties, as they are understood by themselves,
and not as they are presented in party controversy by special
pleaders whose object too often is to pervert or discredit the
principles and actions of opponents, a thing which is easy to do
because all parties, even the noblest, have followers who do them
disservice by ignorant advocacy or excited action. If we are to
unite Ireland we can only do so by recognizing what truly are the
principles each party stands for, and will not forsake, and for which,
if necessary they will risk life. True understanding is to see ideas
as they are held by men between themselves and Heaven; and in this
mood I will try, first of all, to understand the position of Unionists,
Sinn Feiners and Constitutional Nationalists as they have been
explained to me by the best minds among them, those who have induced
others of their countrymen to accept those ideals. When this is done
we will see if compromise, a balancing of diversities be not possible
in an Irish State where all that is essential in these varied ideals
may be harmonized and retained.

3. I will take first of all the position of Unionists. They are,
many of them, the descendants of settlers who by their entrance
into Ireland broke up the Gaelic uniformity and introduced the speech,
the thoughts, characteristic of another race. While they have grown
to love their country as much as any of Gaelic origin, and their
peculiarities have been modified by centuries of life in Ireland
and by intermarriage, so that they are much more akin to their