. Ireland yesterday and today . n Irish industry and commerce were struck 1782, under the leadership of Grattan, the Irish Parlia-ment asserted and compelled recognition of its independ-ence. Ireland was now an independent nation, bound toEngland only by the tie of the Crown. In 1782, also, thereligion and education of Catholics were freed from someof the burdens of the penal laws. Ten years later Catholicswere made eligible for admission to the bar and for juryservice, and in 1793 they won the right to vote at parlia-mentary elections. The pioneers in the fight for Irish rights were ju
. Ireland yesterday and today . n Irish industry and commerce were struck 1782, under the leadership of Grattan, the Irish Parlia-ment asserted and compelled recognition of its independ-ence. Ireland was now an independent nation, bound toEngland only by the tie of the Crown. In 1782, also, thereligion and education of Catholics were freed from someof the burdens of the penal laws. Ten years later Catholicswere made eligible for admission to the bar and for juryservice, and in 1793 they won the right to vote at parlia-mentary elections. The pioneers in the fight for Irish rights were justifiedin their declaration that self-government would bring pros-perity. The country fairly glowed with new life. Agri-culture revived, industries were established, the stagnant chan-nels of trade and commerce became once more and political animosities began to fade before thegrowing light of economic prosperity. It seemed as if thetale of Irelands misery had ended. But it was simply theclosing of a IMPROVEMENTS BY TENANT PURCHASER. XXIV SOLD OUT With a Parliament of her own, a lifting of the cloudof religious persecution and a revival of industry, Irelandfaced toward the end of the eighteenth century an era ofpeace and prosperity. But a fatal weakness remained in thesystem. It was destined to undermine the whole structureand bring with the close of the century such a reverse toIrish progress as would darken the succeeding hundredyears with records of injustice and suffering. While theParliament in Dublin was freed from English dictation, itwas not a truly Irish Parliament. Its independence was wonby Grattan in 1782, but it was not until 1793 that Catho-lics gained the right to vote. Meanwhile the Parliamentremained wholly Protestant—Presbyterians as well as Cath-olics were excluded—and almost wholly devoted to theinterests of the landlords and their oligarchy. The Opposition, led by Grattan, fought gallantly, butcould not overcome the arbitrar
Size: 1235px × 2023px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidire, booksubjectlandtenure
