THE IRELAND OF TO-DAY. 15 



the English language offers no guarantee for 

 him. Imperialism, as it is now understood by 

 the best minds in England, is in keeping with 

 this procedure. It does not mean a Chauvin- 

 istic accentuation of English feeling ; it rather 

 sets before it the goal of furthering and develop- 

 ing in their own particular fashion, a number of 

 races politically linked together and forming a 

 great Empire, who, while they strive for one 

 public end, shall supplement and complete 

 each other. 



But England never desired the mere external 

 Anglicization of Ireland; it wanted to create 

 conditions there which should render possible a 

 healthy economic development. As far as con- 

 cerns the general education which England be- 

 stowed upon Ireland, the results are not brilliant, 

 though substantial advances may be noted. If 

 we inquire what percentage of the population of 

 Ireland over five years of age can neither read 

 nor write, we find this to be in the following 

 years : — 



1841 ... ... ... 53 per cent. 



1861 ... ... ... 39 



1881 25 „ 



1901 ... ... ... 14 



In particular parts of the country and in indi- 

 vidual groups of the population things in igoi 

 were still worse. In Connaught 21 per cent, 

 were illiterate. The entire Roman Catholic 

 population of Ireland showed a percentage of 



