Why Gladstone Failed to Pacify Ireland

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Why Gladstone Failed to Pacify Ireland

Gladstone’s adoption of interest in Irish affairs in 1867 puzzled many

of his contemporaries and has continued to puzzle historians. Up

until 1867 Gladstone had shown very little sympathy towards the Irish,

all his life he had held them in contempt, visiting only once. His

‘mission to pacify Ireland’ was surprising and his motives suspect.

Many historians believe that Ireland was a cause through which

Gladstone was to unify his divided party. Others have said that it

was in reaction to the agrarian violence raging through Ireland, it

was clear that something had to be done. Gladstone declared that it

was his ‘high hope and ardent desire’ that Ireland would be united to

Scotland and England by ‘enduring ties of free will and free

affection, peace, order and a settled and cheerful industry’. It is

clear from the situation in Ireland today that Gladstone did not

achieve his highly ambitious and rather idealistic aims. Although

there was no lack of legislation to deal with the ‘Irish Question’ it

seemed to have little effect. However the situation in Ireland was

exceptional, it was plagued by religious differences, social and

political unrest, a stagnant industry and backward farming methods.

Gladstone was faced with a highly challenging and unenviable task; his

commitment to Ireland did not win him popularity in England where

there was a significant amount of Anti-Irish and Anti-Catholic

sentiment. Gladstone was clearly ardently committed to solving the

Irish Question, his failure was certainly not due to lack of

commitment

Gladstone’s first Act was the Irish Church Act of 1869, desig...

... middle of paper ...

...adstone’s ultimate

failure was that he failed, in almost every area of Irish Policy to

produce legislation to satisfy both Irish Protestants and Irish

Catholics, as Tim Hodge points out ‘He failed to recognise that in any

solution to the Irish problem needed to reconcile the interests of

both Catholic and Protestant Ireland[5]’. The Home Rule Bills with

their failure to make special provisions for the province of Ulster

are a prime example of this ignorance.

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[1] ‘Great Britain and the Irish Question’ – Paul Adelman

[2] ‘Great Britain and the Irish Question’ – Paul Adelman

[3]‘Great Britain and the Irish Question’ – Paul Adelman

[4]‘Great Britain and the Irish Question’ – Paul Adelman

[5] ‘Parnell and the Irish Question’ – Tim Hodge

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