Present Irish Questions

I have written much on Ireland from early youth, especially in the Edinburgh Review and the Times; and two works of mine, 'Ireland, 1494-1868' published in 'The Cambridge Historical Series, ' and 'Ireland, 1798-1898, ' have been received with more than ordinary favour. I have ventured to think that the opinions of a veteran inquirer into Irish affairs, with respect to 'Present Irish Questions' just now of much importance, and certain to be ere long fully discussed in Parliament and elsewhere, may be of some use to a younger generation, that will have to examine and must be affected by them. I am not unaware of the cynical remarks of Swift on the disregard shown to authors who may be said to have had their day; and I do not pretend that, in the instance of myself, 'old experience' has given something of a 'prophetic strain' to what is contained in this volume. But I can say, with truth, that few living men have had such opportunities as have fallen to my lot, during a long series of years, to understand Ireland in its different parts, and the feelings and sentiments of the Irish community; to form sound and moderate views on the many and perplexing phenomena called 'Irish Questions;' to deal reasonably with Irish political and social problems, free from the influences of party prejudice and passion; in short, to do my subject complete and impartial justice. How the accidents and associations of a life already protracted beyond the ordinary span, have, as I hope, given me these qualifications, I have explained at some length in my 'Ireland, 1798-1898;' I shall not repeat what I have already written. But Ireland has constantly been uppermost in my thoughts; and as regards the conclusions I have come to in these pages, I may say, with the Roman historian, 'hæc senectuti seposui.'