The twenty-five attempts to settle by legislation the land question were in nearly every instance denounced as spoliation by the House of Lords, which was constrained to let them pass into law.  The pages of Hansard are grey with unfulfilled forebodings as to what would be the effect of the extension of the Franchise and of the grant of popular Local Government.  The results of the former took the wind out of the sails of those who declared that popular wishes in Ireland were overridden by a political caucus, the success of local government has given Orangemen occasion to blaspheme.

The history of Irish legislation on all these points has been one of belated concession to demands repeatedly made, at first scouted and finally surrendered.  And withal, English statesmen have not killed Home Rule with kindness.  “Twenty years of resolute government” were confidently expected to give Irish Nationalism its quietus.  E pur si muove.

NOTES

[1] L. Paul-Dubois. L’Irlande Contemporaine, p. 174.

[2] “Life of Lord Randolph Churchill,” Vol.  II., p. 455.

[3] L’Irlande Contemporaine, p. 232.

[4] Hansard, August 1, 1881.

[5] Ibid., September 3, 1886.

[6] Ibid., August 19, 1886.

[7] Ibid., March 22, 1887.

[8] Ibid., April 22, 1887.

[9] Ibid., February 14, 1907.

[10] The statement in the text, written shortly after the prorogation of Parliament, unexpectedly demands modification.  Almost all the planters on the Clanricarde estate have expressed their readiness to clear out of the evicted lands and to accept re-settlement elsewhere.  The Lords’ amendments will in consequence not prove the obstacle which it was feared they would to the exercise of powers of compulsion by the Estates Commissioners against the owner.

[11] “Greville Memoirs,” Series I., Vol.  III., p. 269.

[12] Ibid., Series II., p. 217, December, 1843.

[13] Ibid., Series II., Vol.  II., March, 1846.

[14] Hansard, February, 1848.

[15] United Irishman, May 14, 1904.

[16] “Life of Lord Randolph Churchill,” Vol.  II., p. 4, October 14, 1885.

[17] Hansard, May 20, 1884.

[18] “Life of Lord Randolph Churchill,” Vol.  II., p. 456, 1892.

[19] “Greville,” Series I., Vol.  II., p. 76, November, 1830.

[20] “Life of Whately,” Vol.  II., p. 246, 1852.

[21] “Life of Lord Randolph Churchill,” Vol.  II., p. 28, December, 1885.

[22] Morley’s “Life of Gladstone,” Vol.  II., Bk.  IX., Cap. 4, p. 524.

[23] Hansard, March 6, 1905.

[24] Times, January 10, 1906.

[25] Mrs. John Richard Green, Independent Review, June, 1905.

[26] “Ireland and the Empire,” p. 275.