Welsh Journals

present musical activities of Wales," and it has been decided to proceed at once with the issue of a Hymn Book for the use of Gymanfa Ganu Committees through- out the country. This is, by the way, but a very small indication of the work that has been done, and we hope in an early issue to give a full account of the work and intentions of the Council. One of the most striking national Agricultural movements of our generation has been Co-operation. the agricultural co-operative move- ment in Ireland initiated by Sir Horace Plunkett, who had the genius to yoke (if that be the word) the greatest living Irish poet and prose writer, George Russell (A.E.), to its service. The movement (if the politicians had given it a chance) might have united Ireland, might have shown the world that the seed of a Pericles was still in Patrick Maloney's loins, and might have carved an Attica out of Ireland by being instrumental in creating a rural civilization. This, at any rate, was the ideal of its leaders, and —a activities were tuned to the ideal. We welcome the news that in Wales, and particularly in North Wales, there has been, as the Manchester Guardian puts i.. remarkable revival in co-operative work in agri- culture recently. Nearly thirty cheese-making schools have already been established associated with the Agri- cultural Organization Society. Stapleton-Cotton House, Bangor, has been established as the head-quarters of agricultural co-operation in North Wales, with the view of co-ordinating the various movements which have for their object the betterment of the agricultural in- dustry, the improvement of rural conditions, and the bringing about of a better understanding between the different classes in rural districts." The real danger* in Welsh national life is rural decay. There will always be "a rural population, but no rural community" need exist as a consequence, and the restoration of the rural community is one of our most important tasks at the moment if we are to save our soul. Apropos of all this, a distinguished Exile Thoughts. Welshman, Professor Cenydd Morris (the author of the Fate of the Princes of Dyfed "), writes from his University at THE PREMIER, WALES AND IRELAND. THE Prime Minister has learned one thing at least about his Irish Policy. In a Press interview he has acknowledged that he is the victim of a tragedy, and he has sentimentalized over the horror. But at the same time he has shown iiiat he cannot go further. Some terrible force holds him back. He can see vaguely that the tragedy, of which the death agony of the Lord Mayor of Cork is only an episode, threatens to bring not only shame, but also danger to the British Empire; but he appears to be powerless to arrest the ghastly issue. He contem- plates the horror with the same sad and sentimental gaze with which another gallant and gracious Celt, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, viewed the tragedy of Astolat, but he is not able to stay the march of evil. Of Sir Lancelot it was written long afterwards- His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And Faith unfaithful kept him falsely true." The words are ominous, and to some of the Prime Point Loma, California, to a correspondent in Wales as follows Yes; the world goes on in the same curious way that it did when you were here. But a wide study of history has convinced me of the truth of the Greek doctrine of cycles. Civilizations rise, move to their apex, and decline; their evil deeds grow into evil habits; their evil habits bring on ineptitude and in- efficiency; their ineptitude causes decline and finally ruin Wales passed out of existence some six centuries ago, because it could not then cope with existing conditions. But in whatever century or region of the earth we look, we find nations so disappearing, remaining for a long time beneath the surface, as it were, and at last re-emerging with new energies born again. That is what will happen to Wales some day; I am not concerned for my part to hurry that time. All that I am anxious for is, that when it does come, it shall not be merely political, like the rebirth of some Balkan State, but spiritual, and with ideas and a deeper wis- dom to contribute to the life of the world." A Welshman on the shores of the blue Pacific is thinking very much as are thousands of his young countrymen at home. We congratulate Professor Zim- The Government mern warmly on his pluck in writing and Gaelic. to The Observer a protest against the action of the Government s officials and policemen in attacking the Gaelic move- ment in Ireland. Since Professor Zimmern's letter was published, we read that in one village the police have insisted on the removal of Irish names from houses. A more senseless and provocative piece of tyranny it is difficult to conceive, and yet Mr Bonar Law declared that the Government is waging no war against opinion. It is known that to be in possession of a Celtic grammar in Ireland is to be an object of police persecution. In congratulating Professor Zimmern on his pluck, we must at the same time say that it is regrettable that the Welsh and other Celtic personages at the Welsh University should have left it to a gentleman who is by birth neither a Welshman nor a Celt, to make the protest. Ministers most loyal political friends the horrible thought suggests itself that politically he may stand in danger of finding himself in the same position. The question then is. how can he be saved ? and the answer to that, we are convinced, rests with Mr. Lloyd George's fellow countrymen. Some of the greatest of English Liberal journalists, men like Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Massingham, seem to have made up their minds to bid him farewell for ever. In their opinion, he has become the tool or the dupe of reaction-" the lost leader," who will no more be seen under the canvas of their camp, and whom for the rest of their days they will fight in the spirit that Pym fought the arch-apostate, Strafford. But for Welshmen, it is and must be other- wise. We cannot forget the brilliant promise of the Premier's early political years (different in kind to his later almost miraculous achievements), the generous aspirations of his democratic manhood, his genuine affection for his native land, and his passionate sym-