The Land of Eire. The Irish Land League. Its origin, progress and consequences. Preceded by a concise history of the various movements which have culminated in the last great agitation ... With a descriptive and historical account of Ireland from the earliest period to the present day....

Front matter

THE LAND OF EIRE THE IRISH LAND LEAGUE ITS Origin, Progress and Consequences PRECEDED BY A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS MOVEMENTS WHICH HAVE CULMINATED IN THE LAST GREAT AGITATION By JOHN DEVOY. WITH A DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF IRELAND FROM THI EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT DAY. Illustrated by numerous Fine Engravings Comprising Portraits of the Popular Leaders and Views of the Most Interesting Scenery and Antiquities of the Country. NEW YORK PATTERSON & NEILSON 12 DEY STREET. COPYRIGHT 1882, BY PATTERSON 4 NEILSON.

Preface

. THE green isle of Erin is blessed with a wealth of superb and exquisite scenery and legendary and historical attractions that have for years formed fruitful themes for the poet, the novelist, the historian and the antiquary. The painter too, has transferred to his canvas some of its best examples of natural grandeur and beauty ; while the musician has wedded to its name some of his most charming inspirations. Ireland has consequently become so favorably known to the wonder-seeking world, that it now allures to its shores a considerable flow of the tide of travel ; and admirers of the picturesque, drawn thither to view with unprejudiced eye its abrupt and noble mountains, its shadowy ind secluded lakes, its romantically wild and sylvan streams, its deep-set glens and its bounding waterfalls, leave with but one feeling — that if it is not the "first flower of the earth" it is, without doubt, the "first gem of the sea."

There is not, indeed, an island of more enchanting loveliness ; yet, there is combined with its scenic charms a richness of antiquity found in a profusion of magnificent ruin, and of castle, cathedral, monastery, and palace ; while many of its cities, and especially its capital, possess modern edifices, which display correct architectural taste and present pleasing aspects of public improvement. A work which comprises pictorial delineations of the leading artistic features, and an historical and descriptive account of such a country, fulfils a three-fold mission. It refreshes the memory of the traveler, when at his domestic hearth his mind reverts to the pleasures of his wayfarings ; and it affords him a store of information relative to the places he has visited, which he is unable either to gather or digest while journeying along.

It is equally valuable to those who, unable to leave their homes, delight to wander in the imagination to far-off lands, as it enables them to form some idea of their peculiar characteristics ; and it appeals directly to the eye and heart of the native born, who is naturally animated with that love of country which finds its inspiration in every patriotic breast. The sons and daughters of Erin are renowned for their home affections, which are increased in intensity when their lot is cast in foreign climes. It must be not alone

PREFACE.

their natural desire, but that of all those who claim as the home of their fathers that " sweetest isle of the ocean," to possess a more substantial souvenir of their beloved land than can be obtained from dreams of its " sea-beaten shore," and it is evident all will find in the present work attractions that cannot fail to make it interesting and popular. But Ireland is remarkable in her history, as well as in her scenery and antiquities, and the great agitations which have stirred her people during the present century have occupied a considerable share of the world's attention. They have left indelible marks on the character of the Irish people, and it is therefore proper in a work of this kind to devote some attention to them. The great Land Agitation, led by Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt, has effected such changes in the relations between the various classes of the population, and between Ireland and England, that; it is well worthy of serious study.

In "the opening chapters the events which led up to it, the springs of action, the aims and objects of its founders and prime movers, and. the work it accomplished, are sketched from the inside, and an array of facts never before published are presented. The reader will thus be enabled to note the changes in the public life of Ireland during an eventful period, and to see the country and the people just as they are at the present time. Every effort has been made, in short, to present a faithful, comprehensive and complete picture of the Emerald Isle. J. D. Page 9 35 63 Page. 1 CONTENTS Part I. Chapter. I.— IRELAND'S POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION, The Philosophy of Irish History — Survival of an Ancient Civilization and its Influence on the National Struggle — Warring Races and Conflicting Social Systems — From 'Eighty-two to the Land League.

II.— A NEW DEPARTURE IN IRISH AFFAIRS, - The National Spirit Unbroken by the Abortive Rising of 1867 — Reorganizing the Forces of Disaffection — The Manchester Rescue and the Election of John Mitchel — Rise of the Par nell Group of Irish Members — Davitt and the American Nationalists — Foundation and Progress of the Land League. III.— THE LAND WAR AND ITS RESULTS, Parnell and Dillon in America — How the American Land League was Founded — The Parliamentary Elections of 1880 — Davitt's Second Visit to the United States — His Return and Arrest — The Land Act and Coercion — Arrest of the Members and the No Rent Mani festo — The "Treaty of Kilmainham " and the Phœnix Park Murders — General Outcome of the League's Work — A New Ireland. Part II. Chapter. I.— THE CITY OF CORK TO BANTRY BAY. General Character of the Counties of Cork and Kerry — Antiquities — Tower at Kinneath — Historical Notice of the City of Cork : Streets, Bridges and Public Buildings — Birthplace of Distinguished Persons — Character of the Inhabitants — Suburbs of Cork — Blarney Village and Castle — Tradition of the Blarney Stone — Curious Cromlech and Druidic Relics — Road from Cork to Bantry — Bantry Bay — Attempted Landings of the French there — Glengariff — Its Scenery — Cromwell's Bridge — The Harbor.

CONTENTS IV Chapter. Page. 28 II.— THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY, Road from Glengariff — Kenmare — Town of Killarney — Ross Island and Castle — O'Donog hue's Prison — Romantic Tradition Respecting the Chief — Innisfallen, its Ruins, and its Annals — Abbey of Muckross— Torc Cascade — Middle and Lower Lakes — Derrycunihy Cas cade — Taking a Stag — Panoramic View of the Lakes — Ronayne's Island — Old Weir Bridge — Meeting of the Waters — Glena Cottage — View from Innisfallen — O'Sullivan's Cascade — Muckross Revisited — Legend of the Yew Tree — General Remarks on the Scenery — The Upper Lake — Colman's Leap— Eagle's Nest — Cave and Gap of Dunloe — Carran-Tuel — Mangerton— Devil's Punch Bowl— The Beggar Nuisance. III.— VALLEYS OF THE FLESK AND THE LEE, 57 Killaha Castle — Labbig-Owen — Macroom — Inchageela — Lough Allua — Gougane Barra — Remarks on " Patrons " — Pass of Keimaneigh — Abbey and Castle of Kilcrea — Plundering Bands of Kernes — Ballincollig — Inniscarra — "The Ovens" — Carrigrohan Castle — Love of Dancing Amongst the Irish — Approach to Cork.

IV.— QUEENSTOWN AND ITS HARBOR, 7i The River Lee below Cork — Glanmire and Dunkettle — Blackrock Castle and its Associa tions — Ursuline Convent — Dundanion Castle — Little Island — Subterranean Chambers at Carrigtohill — Lough Mahon — Foaty — Passage — Giant's Stairs — Monkstown and its Castle — Queenstown — Ancient and Modern Yachting — Barrymore Island — Queenstown Harbor — Drake's Escape from the Spaniards — Beauties of the Harbor and River Scenery — Rostellan Castle — Sword of Brian Boroihme — Castle Mary and its Ancient Cromlechs — Cloyne and its Cathedral — Bishop Berkeley — Turaghan, or Round Tower — Remarks on the Round Towers of Ireland. V— ALONG THE SOUTH-EASTERN SHORE, 92 Youghal and its Collegiate Church — Residence of Sir Walter Raleigh — Introduction of Potatoes into Ireland — Valley of the Blackwater — Dromana and the Desmonds — Lismore and its Castle — Dungarvan — Tramore Bay — Dunbrody Abbey — Harbor and City of Water ford — Cathedral and Reginald's Tower — Villages on the Coast — Saltee Islands — Discovery of Refugees — Harbor and Town of Wexford — Baronies of Forth and Bargy and their peculiarities.

VI.— FROM KILKENNY TO QUEENSTOWN, X12 New Ross and its Historic Incidents — Kilkenny, its Castle and Cathedral — Round Tower and other Antiquities — Its Eminent Collegians — Amateur Theatricals — Curious Case of Witchcraft — Cave of Dunmore — Jerpoint Abbey — Valley of the Suir — Slieve-na man — Racing for a husband — Clonmel, the "Vale of Honey" — Bianconi and his cars — Donoghmore and Fethard — Cahir — Caves of Mitchelstown — Moat of Knock graffon — Tipperary — The "Golden Vale" — Rock of Cashel — Cashel Cathedral — Round Tower — Cormac's Chapel — Hore Abbey — Holy Cross Abbey — Thurles — Kilcolman Castle. . CONTENTS V Chapter. Page. r40 VII.— THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN COASTS Old Head of Kinsale — Baltimore Bay — Cape Clear^Dunmanus Bay — Bantry Bay — Harbors of Kerry — Derrynane Abbey — The Skelligs — Island of Valentia and Atlantic Cable — Dingle Bay — The Blaskets — Tralee Harbor and Town — Kerry Head — Bally bunion — Mineral Wealth of Kerry — Sunken City — Loop Head — Natural Bridges at Ross — Kilkee — Remarkable Cave — Bishop's Rock — Puffing Cavern — Romantic Coast Scenery — Cove in Malbay — Birds of the Coast — Milltown Malbay — Lahinch — Kilfenora — Cliffs of Moher — Arran Islands — Bays of Connemara — Ballynahinch — Roundstone — Urrisbeg — Clifden — The Killary — Mweelrea — Delphi Lodge.

VIII.— FROM GALWAY TO LIMERICK, 170 Bay of Galway, formerly a Lake — Town of Galway — Spanish Aspects — Origin of the name — Early History — The Tribes of Galway — Sieges the Town has Undergone— Lynch Castle and the Lynch Family — Tragical Story of the Warden of Galway — Col legiate Church of St. Nicholas — Queen's College — Eminent Men of Galway — The Claddagh, its People and their Peculiar Customs — Population and Trade of Galway — Its Commercial Advantages — Proximity to America — Natural Features — Abbey of Clare-Galway — Athenry — Tuam and its Two Cathedrals — Gort — Lough Cooter and its Eccentric Outlet — Cathedral and Round Tower of Kilmacduagh — Ennis — Ruined Abbeys of Clare and Killone — Clare Castle. IX.— LIMERICK AND THE LOWER SHANNON, 184 Kilrush — Scattery Island, its Churches and Legends — Grave of "The Colleen Bawn" — Tarbert — Castle of Glin — Foynes — Adare, its Castle and Ecclesiastical Edifices — Castle of Bunratty — Carrig-o-Gunnell Castle, and its Commanding View — Approach to Lim erick — Wellesley Bridge — English and Irish Towns — Newton Pery — Limerick compared with New York — The Bridges — Historical Events and Memorable Sieges — The Violated Treaty — Limerick Castle — Old Thomond Bridge and the Treaty Stone — St. Mary's Cathedral — Legend of its Bells — Other Religious Structures — Public Buildings and Commercial Enterprises— Limerick Lasses and Street Minstrels— Garryowen— Mungret and its Monastic Remains.

X.— THE MIDDLE AND UPPER SHANNON, 204 Course of the River — Doonass Rapids — Castle Connell and its Historical Associations —Killaloe— Kinkora, the Palace of Brian Boroimhe— Lough Derg— Innis-Cealtra or Holy Island — Picturesque Scenery — Portumna — Archæological Discoveries — Clonfert — Grand Canal— River Suck— Ballinasloe and its Famous Fair— Battle of Aughrim — Seven Churches of Clonmacnoise — Temple McDermott— Round Towers— Ancient Cross Athlone and its Brave Defenders— Lissoy, the scene of the "Deserted Village"— Upper Shannon— Lough Ree — Rincruin — Roscommon — Seven Churches of Kilbarry — Carrick-on-Shannon — Source of the River. XI.— FROM THE SHANNON TO THE METROPOLIS, 225 Longford— Edgeworthstown and the Edgeworths— Multifarnham and its Abbey— Lough Ouel— Mullingar— Lough Ennel— Bog of Allen— Ancient Seminary of Clonard— Dangan Castle and the Wellesleys— Hill and Castle of Carbury— Maynooth Castle and College —Approach to Dublin.

Part III. Chapter. Page. I.— THE CITY OF DUBLIN, i Ancient Divisions of Ireland — Situation of the Metropolis — Origin of its Name and Important Events in its History — Population and Social Classification — Castle of Dublin, -its History and Past and Present Uses — Cathedral of St. Patrick, its Erection and Restoration — Notable Monuments and Choral Music — The Story of " Stella " — Christ Church Cathedral and its Restoration — Monument to Strongbow — Lord Portlester's Chapel — St. Michael's Church and its Antiseptic Vaults — Modern Protestant Churches — Roman Catholic Edifices — Trinity College — College Green and its Statues — Bank of Ireland— Old Parliament House — Theatres — Royal Dublin Society — Stephen's Green — Exhibition Palace — International Exhibitions. II.— THE CITY OF DUBLIN (Continued), 24 Quays of the Liffey— Kilmainham Hospital— The Bridges — The Four Courts — Queen's Inn — Royal Exchange or City Hall — Views from Carlisle Bridge— Sackville Street — Nelson's Pillar — Post Office — Rotunda and Lying-in Hospital — Statues to Smith O'Brien and O'Connell — Custom House — North and South Walls — Docks and Basins — Commerce and Manufactures — Literary and Benevolent Institutions — Railways — Eminent Natives — Phœnix Park — Wellington Testimonial — People's and Zoological Gardens — Vice Regal Lodge— Origin and Beauty of the Park — The "Fifteen Acres," and the Good Old Days.

III.— THE UPPER LIFFEY AND BEYOND KILDARE, - 44 Beauty of the Dublin Suburbs — Valley of the Liffey — Castleknock and its Legends — The " Strawberry Beds " — Woodlands — Lucan — Leixlip and its Salmon Leap — Celbridge — Swift and "Vanessa" — Clane — Roman Catholic College at Clangowes Wood — Sallins — Grand Canal — Naas — Falls of Poul-a-Phouca — Kilcullen — Curragh of Kildare — City of Kildare — Athy — Mullimast and its Historic Associations— Moat of Ascul— Carlow — Clondalkin and its Round Tower. IV.— THE SEABOARD ENVIRONS OF DUBLIN, 57 Marino — Clontarf and its Battle Ground — Malahide Castle— The Widowed Bride — Lambay — Ireland's Eye — Howth Castle and its Valiant Possessors — The Stolen Heir — Howth Harbor and Ancient Abbey — Bailey Lighthouse — Historical Importance of the Promontory — View of Dublin Bay — Kingstown and its Fine Harbor — Dalkey Atmospheric Railway — Killiney Hill and the View Therefrom — Mock Kingdom of Dalkey— Killiney Village and Bay — Ballybrack — Bray — Kilruddery House — Bray Head and its Prospect — Mount Anville — Donnybrook Fair.

CONTENTS VII Chapter. Page. V— THE BEAUTIES OF WICKLOW, 79 Character of the Scenery — Dundrum — Three Rock Mountain — Kilgobbin — " The Scalp" — Enniskerry — Sugar Loaf Mountain — Glen of the Dargle — Powerscourt Castle, Deerpark, and Waterfall — Tinnahinch — Loughs Bray — Douce Mountain — Lough Tay or Luggelaw — Druidical Rocking Stone — Lough Dan — Roundwood — Mountains, Glens, and Military Road — Glendalough, its Ruins, Loughs, and Legends — Round Tower — St. Kevin and the Infatuated Kathleen — Glenmalure — Lugnaquilla — Rathdrum — Castle Howard — Meeting of the Waters — Vale of Avoca — Woods of Shillelagh — Shelton Abbey — Arklow — Town of Wicklow — Rosanna House and the Author of "Psyche" — Devil's Glen — Pass of Dunran — Glen of the Downs. VI.— THE VALLEY OF THE BOYNE, no Historic Importance of the River — Glasnevin and its Celebrities — Trim and its Ancient Castle — Newtown Trim and its Ecclesiastical Ruins — Bective Abbey — Hill of Tara and its Historic Glories — Beauty of the River's Banks — Holy Wells — Patterns and the Cause of their Decline — Athlumney Castle — Navan — Kells and St. Columbkille — Hill of Telton and its Ancient Fair — Strange Matrimonial Custom — Church and Round Tower of Donaghmore — Antiquities at Slane — St. Patrick's Defiance — Brugh-na-Boinne, the Royal Cemetery — Mound at New Grange — Battle of the Boyne — Drogheda and its Associations — Mellifont and Monasterboice.

VII.— THE MOURNE MOUNTAINS AND ARMAGH, 127 Dunleer and its Sovereign — Dundalk and the Last King of Ireland — Greenore and Greencastle — Carlingford Magnificent Scenery — Monument to General Ross — Carlingford Bay — Beautiful Ross -Trevor — Slieve Ban and Cloughmore — Kingdom of Mourne — Kilkeel — Slieve Donard— Newcastle — Dundrum — Downpatrick, the Last Resting Place of the Patron Saint — Mountain Seats and Villages — Rathfriland — Warrenpoint — Narrow Water Castle — Newry and its Associations — Armagh and its Ecclesiastical Renown — The Modern Archiepiscopal City — Portadown, Lurgan, and Lismore — Approach to Belfast. VIII.— BELFAST AND THE ANTRIM COAST, 139 View from Cave Hill — Early History and Modern Growth of Belfast — Docks and Shipping — Linen Trade — Public, Religious and Educational Edifices — Eminent Citizens — Commerce of Belfast — Giant's Ring — Belfast Lough — Antrim and its Round Tower — Shane's Castle — Lough Neagh — Carrickfergus and its Castle — Bangor — Donaghadee — Island Magee — Larne — Castle of Olderfleet — Glenarm, and the Race which Won it — Nachore Hill and Garron Point— Glenariff and Red Bay — Cushendall and Cushendun — Tor Head — Glendun — Fair Head and its Basaltic Columns — Ballycastle and its Coal Mines — Antrim Coast Road.

IX.— THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, 163 Kenbane Castle — Rathlin Island and Brace's Castle — Carrick-a-Rede and its Flying-Bridge — Dunseverick Castle — Bengore Head — The Giant's Causeway and its Fabulous Origin — First Impressions Deceptive — Wonderful Natural Phenomenon — "Measurement and Geometrical Characteristics — Giant's Organ, Loom, and other Curious Basaltic Conforma tions — Giant's Amphitheatre and Chimney Tops — The Pleaskin — Indentations of the Coast — Dunkerry and Portcoon Caves — Wonders of the Causeway Contemplated — Dunluce Castle and its Checkered History — The White Rocks and the Priest's Hole — Portrush — Coleraine — Magilligan and Limavady. CONTENTS Chapter. Page. 181 X.— LONDONDERRY AND THE NORTHWEST, i The " Maiden City " — Its Early History — Londonderry and the Plantation of Ulster — The Memorable Siege — Ancient Bastions and Gates — Walker's Pillar — Cathedral and other Public Edifices — Loughs Foyle and Swilly — Peninsula of Innishowen — Grianan Aileach — Strabane, Newton Stewart and Omagh — Enniskillen — Devenish Island, its Churches and Round Tower — The River Eme — The Upper and Lower Loughs — Lough Derg and St. Patrick's Purgatory — Fisheries of Ballyshannon — Donegal Town and Bay — Grandeur of Donegal Scenery — Sligo — Hazlewood and Lough Gill — Ballina — Roserk Abbey — Abbey of Moyne — Killala — French Invasion — Lough Conn and Mt. Nephin — Lough Cullen — Castlebar.

XL— CONNEMARA AND JOYCE'S COUNTRY, 202 Historic Districts — Westport and Clew Bay — Croagh Patrick and the Prospect it Embraces — Achill and Clare Islands — Grace O'Malley, the Sea Rover — Leenane — The Joyce Family — The Killary — Loughs Fee and Kylemore — Pass of Kylemore — Letterfrack — Lough Inagh — Maamturc and Binabola Mountains — Characteristics of the Scenery — Loughs Derryclare and Garromin — Roads to Galway and Cong — Hen's Castle — Cong, its Abbey and Ancient Crosses — Monumental Remains — Subterranean River — Plain of Moytura — Loughs Mask and Corrib, their Islands and Fortresses — Return to Galway. THE LAND OF EIRE. Part I.— THE IRISH LAND LEAGUE.

Chapter I. Ireland's Political And Social Condition

The Philosophy of Irish History — Survival of an Ancient Civilization and its Influence on the National Struggle— Warring Races and Conflicting Social Systems — From 'Eighty-two to the Land League. IRELAND occupies a position in the world which is entirely anomalous and peculiar. Her geographical position gives her a climate and a scenery widely differing from those of the rest of Europe, and her history, politics, and social system present contrasts equally striking. Lying outside the march of the Roman legions, she was the only country of Western Europe which was able to preserve and hand down to modern times an older, if less perfect, civilization, the marks of which are indelibly stamped on the character of the people. In the long, dark night which followed the destruction of the Western Empire she was the one bright spot where liberty, literature, and art found a refuge, and from the spark preserved in her schools, the light of knowledge was again spread over Europe, and the rude Northern barbarians, whose sway replaced that of Rome, were civilized by her missionaries.

The brutal and degrading feudal system obtained no foothold on her soil, and in B IRELAND'S POLITICAL IMPORTANCE. 10 the twelfth century the Anglo-Norman freebooters, who commenced the English Conquest, found a social organization recognizing the equality of man, and the people as the owners of the land. From that day to the present a struggle has been going on between two conflicting principles — two antagonistic systems, which are contending for the mastery of the world. It is a war of races, but none the less a conflict of principles. Thus Ireland has for centuries received a share of the world's attention out of all proportion with her population or the extent of her territory. No country of such insignificant proportions, with the exception of ancient Greece, has ever played so conspicuous a part in human affairs.

Her misfortunes, her sufferings, the achievements of her exiled sons, the social and political questions which agitate her people, her relations with the greatest empire the world has seen since the fall of Rome, have afforded a fascinating subject for study to European states men and thinkers for many generations. But the events of the past few years have enhanced this interest, and fixed the attention of the civilized world upon her with an intensity without precedent in her previous history. The immediate cause of this increased importance was the Land Agitation, which started in 1879, anc:*- has since put English statesmanship to a greater strain than anything that has occurred since the wars growing-- out of the French Revolution. No more remarkable change has occurred in any country in Europe during this century than that which, to one who goes beneath the surface, is visible in the Irish people since then.

Nothing like it has been seen since the great Revolution swept like a tornado over France, tearing away the whole fabric of the old society, and uprooting institutions whose foundations had been firmly imbedded in the soil by a thousand years of human toil directed by genius of the highest order. The fact that this is only apparent to those who are familiar with the politics and social life of the country, the thoughts and hopes and impulses of the people, is, in some degree, owing to the process by which it has been brought about. No visible, tangible thing has been knocked down or destroyed, no new institution has been built up. The change is in men's minds, and is still going on. It is the mental revolution which always precedes — and must always precede — the overturning of old political or social systems, and the substitution of a new order of things.

A GRADUAL PROCESS OF CHANGE. 11 But this revolution has not taken place in a day. Although only visible since the starting of the Land League, the process of change has been going on for generations. The events, the ideas, the causes which led up to it, have been in steady operation for centuries and the out come is as clear, natural and logical as anything within the reach of human knowledge. The movement which has so agitated Ireland and fixed the attention of the world upon her, was as much the result of those that preceded it, and of the causes from which they sprang, as the rip'e grain is the result of the seed sown by the husbandman. No new idea had come into Ireland, no sudden impulse had seized upon the people, no prophet had arisen to preach a new political or social creed ; but ideas and principles planted generations ago, and nurtured in blood and tears and unparalleled human suffering, had commenced to bear fruit.

The Anglo-Norman Conquest, the four centuries of incessant struggle that preceded the final defeat of O'Neill at Kinsale, the Reformation, the plantations, confiscations and butcheries of the Stuarts and of Cromwell, the Penal Laws, the short lived Independence of the Irish Parliament, the pitchcap, the gibbet, and the slaughterings of '98, the Emancipation and Repeal movements, the Famine of '47, Young Ireland, Fenianism — all contributed their share to bringabout this state of things and to shape the thoughts and feelings of the people. But the more recent movements have had decidedly the deepest influence, as they were themselves the latest product, the fullest develop ment, up to their time, of a steady and certain progression of events. The Land League was a product of Fenianism, as the latter was a product of Young Ireland.

Its principles, no matter how modified by time and circumstances, it derived from the literature of Young Ireland, and its organization directly through its founder, from Fenianism. To ignore this fact is to ignore the true significance of the new situation. The history of this change is the history of Ireland during three eventful years ; but, to properly understand it, a rapid survey of the events which preceded it, and of the conditions of politics and society prevailing at the time this great movement began, will be necessary. Three years before, to judge by whatever of political life was visible on the surface, Ireland was practically dead. Hardly a ripple of activity disturbed the placid surface or showed there was any life below. No AGITATIONS, CONSPIRACIES AND COMPROMISES. 12 one who knew the people, it is true, doubted for a moment the existence of the old dislike for English rule, the old longing for a separate national existence, on the part of the great majority of the people.

But, for the moment, it did not show itself in public acts. Whatever of activity there was, consisted of quiet, steady work and organization, with a view to the future, rather than a lively interest in the events of the day or a hope of any immediate results. A period of unwonted calm had set in after the partial collapse of the Fenian movement, and Isaac Butt's weak and half-hearted Home Rule agitation had fallen flat. Started immediately after the Disestablishment of the Irish Protestant Church, it for a time attracted a few dozen Conservatives, angry with England for depriving them, more in appearance than reality, of their old ascendency ; but the advent to power of a Tory Cabinet brought them back to the old flag, and they have ever since remained on the side of the English connection.

Butt's ill-defined and cumbrous plan, which he called Federalism, but which had nothing in it to justify the title, had no charms for the people; and,, although, for the time, the most popular man in Ireland, he failed to make his organization strike its roots in the country. It died with its founder. The Irish people have never liked compromise movements, and it is probable they never will. Their ideal, which has been handed down with singular fidelity from generation to generation for many centuries, is absolute independence ; and the great majority of those who cannot see any chance of the proximate realization of that solution of the national problem, prefer to look for some temporary good from the foreign government rather than lower the national demand. The only serious compromise ever proposed was Repeal of the Union ; and that, it must never be forgotten, includes the independence of the Irish Parliament.

No man who has had an opportunity of conversing with old Repealers among the peasantry could fail to note the strong preference they entertain for Separation, and the almost religious reverence for the memory of the United Irishmen, who were all Separatists and Republicans. Since 1 782, when the modern school of Irish Nationalism was founded, revolutionary attempts aiming at separation and agitations for redress of minor or class grievances have succeeded one another with unerring regularity, the only exception being the Repeal movement — and Repeal is Separation in a modified form. A GLANCE BACK TO 'EIGHTY-TWO. 13 When the people think of self-government they think of complete Na tional Independence ; and when defeat or disappointment shatters their hopes, their attention is turned to their personal or class interests, and then Catholic Associations, Anti-Tithe movements or Tenant Leagues are the result.

Glancing back over the last hundred years, we find nine great movements among the Irish people looking to the political or social ameliora tion of their condition, viz.: the Volunteers of 1782; the United Irishmen; the agitation for Catholic Emancipation; the Anti-Tithe War; the Repeal Agitation; the Irish Confederation, or Young Ireland Movement; the Tenant League; the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, generally called Fenianism ; and the Land League. Of these nine movements, five were for National Independence in a more or less absolute form, and four for the redress at the hands of the British Parliament of grievances affecting the majority of the population. In all cases the demand for the lesser thing followed an unsuccessful effort to secure the greater. A knowledge of all these movements is necessary to a thorough understanding of the condition of Ireland at the present time.