The Irish Free State - Its Government And Politics (Paperback)

THE IRISH FREE STATE ITS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS by NICHOLAS MANSERGH B. A., B. Litt. With a Foreword by W. G. S. ADAMS, M. A., HON. D. C. L. Warden of All Souls College, Oxford LONDON GEORGE ALLEN UNWIN LTD MUSEUM STREET FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1934 All rights reserved PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY UNWIN BROTHERS LTD., WOKING TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER PREFACE IT is a commonplace to say that Democracy is on its trial. If this statement is true as I believe it to be true then it is well to examine in the light of more than twelve years of practical experience the peculiar virtues and vices which Representative Government has displayed in our country. This book is an attempt to carry out such an analysis. It is not its purpose to give an exact photographic reproduction of the Government and Politics of the Irish Free State at any precise moment. Rather has it been my aim to discover the underlying principles at work in our political structure. The task was rendered the more interesting, on the one hand by the vitality of the political issues in this country, on the other by my belief that in our generation we are creating a new democratic State. This State, the offspring of a Revolution very real even if not sensational, will make it quite evident that Democracy cannot be subjected to one final interpretation, but must prove itself the form of government best fitted to solve the changing problems of our ever-changing political outlook. It is in no spirit of conventional formality that I wish to thank all who have so kindly helped by criticism and advice during the preparation of this work, for without the encourage ment so generously given by leaders and thinkers of all political parties, bycivil servants, and by the members of the Staff of both Houses of the Oireachtas, this book had been very much the poorer. My gratitude for their unfailing patience and courtesy in answering series of frequently obscure and rather trying questions is deep and sincere. My inquiries were spread over a large field, so it is perhaps rather invidious to mention certain names. But I would like to convey my especial thanks to Professor Michael Hayes, ex-Chairman of Dail Eireann Mr. J. J. Hearne, Legal Adviser to the Department of External Affairs Mr. D. Coffey, Assistant Clerk of Seanad Eireann 8 The Government of the Irish Free State Mr. E. Mansfield, Commissioner at the Land Commission and to Mr. E. J. Riordan, the Controller of Prices, who read over parts of my MSS. and made most valuable suggestions. Further, my thanks are due to Professor A. Zimmern for the opportunity of a most helpful conversation. I cannot conclude this acknowledgement without paying a tribute, inadequate though it be, to Mr. W. G. S. Adams, Warden of All Souls College, Oxford, under whose kindly aegis this work has grown. His experience of the many-sided problems of modern government made his advice an inspiration. I am very grateful that he should do me the honour of writing the Foreword. Needless to say, neither he nor anyone else is in any sense responsible for any statement or opinion whatsoever appearing in this book. NICHOLAS MANSERGH GRENANE HOUSE TIPPERARY 934 FOREWORD IN British-Irish relations, however perverse and difficult, there is only one direction which is worth exploring, and that is the way of good understanding and of friendship between the British and Irish peoples. There has been hatred, and therehas been misunderstanding, and each of these begets unhappiness and ill-will. There can be no real friendship unless it is built on the desire to be friends, and on the will to preserve friendship and to remove whatever divides and breeds distrust and misunderstanding. Within Ireland all men and women of good will must work patiently and with determination for better understanding between North and South. It is easy to sow division, it is slow and difficult to build up confidence and co-operation...

General

Imprint:	Read Books
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	March 2007
First published:	March 2007
Authors:	Nicholas Mansergh
Dimensions:	216 x 140 x 19mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	344
ISBN-13:	978-1-4067-2035-8
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > General Books > History > General
LSN:	1-4067-2035-6
Barcode:	9781406720358

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