This might strike us strangely, but 'tis true, not the less true because the English people could hardly understand or appreciate it now.

The military defence of Ireland is almost farcical.

A free Ireland could make it a reality--could make it strong against invasion.

This would secure England from attack on our side.

No one is, I take it, so foolish as to suppose, being free, we would enter quarrels not our own.