Standish O'Grady; selected essays and passages

IRISH POLITICS AND POLITICAL HISTORY 171
talked of the " social revolution," and the paradises to
be got out of that.
I may be asked of such a party, what do I conceive
should be their method ? Well, with regard to Ireland,
I will explain. Granted the existence of a strong Con-
servative Government, their policy would not be political,
but of an utilitarian and industrial character. The sorest
grievance of Ireland to-day is the fact, which I know
well to be a fact, that decent men and women are unable
to find steady employment, and at wages which would
permit them to live in a human way. Such a Govern-
ment would organize services for various, projects
connected with the material development of the country,
draining off into wholesome occupations all our waste
labour. It would put a summary end to the brutal poor
law system, intensely unpopular as it is in this country,
in addition to being a radical absurdity, and worse. The
last excuse for its existence would be gone when all willing
hands were offered honourable work. Irish charity may
be trusted to take care of the orphans, the aged, and the
otherwise incapacitated. Relief works have ever been bad
and demoralizing. These State services must be organ-
ized on the principle of stern discipline. The power of
dismissal would probably provide sufficient means of
enforcing discipline. The standard of wages all over
the island would straightway rise to or near the Govern-
ment level, and the sight that Burns called the saddest
under the sun—a willing workman with no work—would
be unknown. For the control of these men the Govern-
ment would require officers, engineers, accountants, etc.,