He left his people improved in their material circumstances to an almost incredible degree, as compared with their state when he began his work.
Yet Ireland counts his life a failure, and he most assuredly accepted that view; for he died heartbroken, not for his own sake but for Ireland's, because he had not won through to the goal.

His action upon the war was his life's supreme action; he felt this, and knew that it had failed to achieve its end.

By that action let us judge him, for all else is trivial in comparison beside it.
It is said by his critics that he bargained badly.

If reply were made that he believed the Allied cause to be right and desired to lead his country according to his conception of justice, we should be answered that he was in charge of his country's interests, not of her morals; and he would have admitted an element of truth in this.

Yet, as in the Boer War he had led his countrymen to support what he conceived to be the right cause, even with certain injury to their own, so now assuredly he would not have acted as he did, had he not been convinced that Ireland's honour was to be served as well as her advantage.
But when there is talk of bargaining, it is well to consider what he had to bargain with.