FROM THE ARCHIVES:An Indian visitor, Naoroji Dumasia, gave a less than flattering report on the newly independent State after visiting the Dáil.
From England to Ireland is only a short step, but the contrast between the two countries is incomparably great. In England one sees opulence and luxury with a passion for recreation, combined with a steady and abundant energy for sustained work and high purpose. Its contrast with Ireland . . . is striking. Here we see miles and miles of pasture lands, with sparse population, and the fertility of the soil and facilities for trade are at once apparent. Its products find a ready market in a rich neighbour and the prosperity of the country, depends upon the higher purchasing power of Great Britain. The economic condition of the country cannot be called satisfactory. Its industries have yet to be developed.
How far these economic ills and backwardness in the industrial development can be traced to the temperament and dislike for producing more wealth by means of hard work, and the frittering away of energies in creating new political idols, of which one sees abundant evidence, it is difficult to say, but one thing that is patent to the eye of an impartial stranger is, that it affords ample proof of opportunities neglected by the people. Here they seem to neglect their duty to posterity. Apparently, they seem to care more for the detish of political liberality than for higher things, forgetting that political independence postulates one third – namely, the possession of the art of good Government. The proceedings of the Parliament of a country furnish a correct criterion for judging the capacity of a nation for governing itself. Judged by the test of the proceedings in the Dáil, a great improvement is needed in the calibre of the representatives which the people send to their Parliament. That Ireland has a great leeway to make for the progress of economic and financial prosperity can be noticed at a glance.
That it will be seriously handicapped by the withdrawal of Great Britain’s aid is being already demonstrated and even admitted. The idea seems to have been grasped by President Cosgrave and his Cabinet. But so far as the generality of the people is concerned, the impression that is left on one’s mind by their indifference to laws of economic progress is that they would not be stirred by ambition or even a sense of duty in order to play their [p]art for the orderly economic progress of their country, apart from what their Government would do.
It is inevitable that the qualities needed in a nation for increasing its prosperity will be developed in course of time, but they do not seem to be there for the present. In President Cosgrave I detected a practical man of sound common-sense, shrewd and congenial, who can still his heart against its generous promptings in case of supreme necessity. The image of him that I had of a fiery volcano. As I was ushered in his presence I was immediately disillusioned.
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