The year 1844 opened under happier auspices.  The financial measures of the government had answered public expectations, and changed the growing deficiency into an increasing surplus.  Improvements in machinery had increased the gains of the manufacturers; a war in India had been terminated successfully, and England was at peace with all the world.  The only formidable troubles were in Ireland,—­the standing difficulty with all administrations, Conservative or Liberal, and which no administration has ever been able to surmount.  Sir Robert Peel had hoped that the Catholic Emancipation Act would lead to the tranquillity of Ireland.  But that act did not content the Irish reformers.  The fiercest agitation was conducted by O’Connell for the repeal of the Union itself and the restoration of the Irish parliament.  At bottom, the demands of the great agitator were not unreasonable, since he demanded equal political privileges for both Ireland and England if the Union should continue,—­that, in short, there should be one law for both countries.  But since the ministry insisted on governing Ireland as a foreign and conquered country, denying equality of rights, the agitation grew to fearful proportions, chiefly in the shape of monster meetings.  At last the government determined on the prosecution of O’Connell and some others for seditious conspiracy, and went so far as to strike off the name of every Catholic on the jury which was to try him.  The trial lasted twenty-four days, and the prisoners were convicted.  The hard and unjust sentence on O’Connell himself was imprisonment for twelve months and a fine of two thousand pounds.  Against this decision an appeal was made to the House of Lords, and the judgment of the court was reversed.  But the old man had already been imprisoned several weeks; his condemnation and imprisonment had told on his rugged constitution.  He was nearly seventy years of age, and was worn out by excitement and unparalleled labors; and although he tried to continue his patriotic work, he soon after sickened, and in 1847 died on his way to Rome in search of rest.

O’Connell’s death did not end the agitations, which have continued from that time to this with more or less asperity, and probably will continue until justice shall be done to Ireland.  It is plain that either Ireland should be left free to legislate for herself, which would virtually be the dismemberment of the empire; or should receive equal privileges with the English; or should be coerced with an iron hand, which would depopulate the country.  It would seem that Ireland, if it is to form part of the empire,—­not as a colony, but an integral part, like the different States of the American Union,—­should be governed by the same laws that England has, and enjoy the same representation of its population.  Probably there never will be order or tranquillity in the island until it shall receive that justice which the prejudices of the English will not permit them at present to grant,—­so slow are all reforms which have to contend with bigotry, ignorance, and selfishness.  The chain which binds nations and communities together must be a chain of love, without reference to differences in color, religion, or race.