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The Ulster liberal unionists and local government reform, 1885–98

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Catherine B. Shannon
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Extract

In the mid-1880s English political leaders found it essential to develop new policies for Ireland. While the liberals, led by Gladstone, were converted to the home-rule solution, the tories sought to preserve the union with a two-pronged policy. First, Ireland’s economic disorders were to be cured by vigorously developing the system of state-aided land purchase, and by having the imperial treasuly assume a large portion of the cost of developing the country’s natural resources and industrial potential. This aspect of the policy rested upon the tory conviction that Irish support of home rule would diminish in direct proportion to significant economic and social advance. The second part of the policy called for the establishment of a democratic system of local government which was to be the limit of political concessions to Irish nationalist sentiment.

Type
Articles
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 18 , Issue 71 , March 1973 , pp. 407 - 423
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1973

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References

1 Gwynn, S. and Tuekwell, G., The life of Sir Charles W. Dilke (London, 1917), 2, 11–12.Google Scholar

2 Holland, B., The life of Spencer Compton, the eighth duke of Devonshire (London, 1911), 2, 77–8Google Scholar; Howard, C.H.D., ‘The Irish “central board” scheme, 1884–5’ m I.H.S., 8, no. 32 (Sept. 1953), pp 324–61.Google Scholar

3 Salisbury’s conviction derived from his interview with Lord Carnarvon following the latter’s secret meeting with Parnell in August (Hansard 3, cccxxv, 1179).

4 The Times 4 June 1885.

5 The Times, 8 Oct. 1885.

6 Dugdale, B., Arthur James Balfour (London, 1936), 1, 90.Google Scholar

7 Hansard 3, cccii, 125.

8 Dugdale, op. cit.. i, 101

9 The Ulster Liberal Unionist Association: a sketch of its history, 1885–1914 (Belfast, 1914), p. 22; hereafter cited Ulster Liberal Unionist Association.

10 Ibid., p. 22.

11 Gladstone to Campbell-Bannerman, 16 Dec. 1688 (B.M., Add. MS 41215, f. 27).

12 Curtis, L.P., Coercion and conciliation, p. 185.Google Scholar

18 Lyons, F.S.L., ‘John Dillon and the Plan of Campaign’ in I.H.S., 14, no. 56 (Sept. 1965), pp 321–2.Google Scholar

14 Balfour’s cabinet memorandum on land policy, 8 Apr. 1887 (B.M., Add. MS 49822, ff 49–50).

15 Ulster Liberal Unionist Association, p. 83.

16 A.C. Sellars to Montgomery, 29 Jan. 1888 (P.R.O.N.I., Dod/627/ 428/218).

17 Sellars to Montgomery, 13 Mar. 1888 (P.R.O.N.I., Dod/627/428/219).

18 Hansard 3, cccxxv, 503.

19 Ibid., col. 507.

20 For the fullest account of attempts at liberal reunion see Hurst, M., Joseph Chamberlain and liberal reunion (London, 1967).Google Scholar

21 The Times, 29 May 1888.

22 Salisbury to Balfour, 16 Jan. 1889 (B.M., Add. MS 49689, ft 49–50).

23 Kenny to Montgomery, 21 Apr. 1889 (P.R.O.N.I., Dod/627/428/ in). Kenny was active in establishing the liberal union of Ireland and in organizing the Hartington and Goschen visit to Ireland in 1887. He sat as a unionist M.P. for Stephen’s Green from 1892–7, and was solicitor-general for Ireland, 1895–7 (Who was Who, 4th ed., London, 1967, ii, 580-1). Frederic William Pirn, another prominent unionist, was chairman of the Dublin and South-Eastern Railway from 1896 to 1917 (Who was Who, 4th ed., ii, 840).

24 Dicey to Balfour, 29 Apr. 1890 (B.M., Add. MS 49792, f. 182).

25 Balfour to Dicey, 30 Apr. 1890 (B.M., Add. MS 49792, f. 185).

26 It should be noted that the local government board when considering the 1892 local government bill assured the chief secretary that in the past they had enjoyed sufficient power to take effective action against any local body which persisted in passing inflama tory résolutions, or in arousing unlawful activity. The insinuation of the board’s minute was that they could and would take action under the new system if necessary (S.P.O., C.S.O., R.P. 1892/4813).

27 The Times, 21 Aug. 1891 ; The Spectator, 15 Aug. 1891.

28 Balfour to Broderick, 2 Sept. 1891 (B.M., Add. MS 49830 f. 199).

29 Balfour to duke of Abercorn, 9 Sept. 1891 (B.M., Add MS 49830, ff 229–30).

30 Ridgeway to Balfour, 19 Oct. 1891 (B.M., Add. MS 49812, f. 199). Ridgeway was probably referring to Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Fermanagh and Tyrone where catholics and protestants were more evenly balanced than in the rest of the north.

31 Balfour to Waterford, 22 Oct. 1891 (B.M., Add. MS 49830, f. 311).

32 The Times, 24 Aug. 1891.

33 Balfour to Ridgeway, 14 Oct. 1891 (B.M., Add. MS 49830, f. 282). Lewis was Sir George Henry Lewis, 1833–1911, who had represented the nationalists during the investigations of the special commisison, 1888 (Who was Who, 3rd ed., London, 1962, i, 428).

34 Ridgeway to Balfour, 19 Oct. 1891 (B.M., Add. MS 49812, f. 199).

35 Hansard 4, i, 726–95.

36 Ibid., col. 726.

37 Ibid., col. 726.

38 The Times 3 20 July 1895.

39 Under the 1891 act, prospective tenant buyers had to pay higher rents for five years as security against default (Curtis, Coercion and conciliation, p. 351).

40 Pomfret, J., The struggle for land in Ireland (Princeton, 1930), p. 274.Google Scholar

41 Hansard 4, xlix, 1041.

42 Ibid., col. 1047.

43 Ulster Liberal Unionist Association, p. 85.

44 Dillon to O’Brien, 8 July 1898 (N.L.I., O’Brien papers, MS 8885/13).

45 While the issues of home rule and land entered into the 1902 and 1905 county council elections, after 1903 local electors demonstrated an increasing concern for economy and efficiency in local government. See my unpublished M.A. thesis, ‘Local government in Ireland : the politics and administration’, University College, Dublin, 1963, ch. 4.