Continuing the trend of following a time-line...

The Time Between the 1867 Rising and the Rise of Parnell

The rise of the Home Rule Party or Irish Parliamentary Party as it is otherwise known was different from nationalistic minded movements in the past in that its main influence was militant. The Fenian Movement greatly aided in the ideals of those involved with the Home Rule Party. The failure of their armed rising fueled the minds of the politically apt into taking the cause for Irish freedom to the British Parliament.

With its leaders in veritable exile in America and elsewhere, the Irish Republican Brotherhood had no possible armed agitation in the foreseeable future. They continued to build their financial and recruiting networks throughout the world.

Politically, following the Fenian era, the voice of the Irish people was initially heard thru the Amnesty Movement. With its help and broad support base, Prime Minister Gladstone admitted that their were "deep grievances" in Ireland. It was therefore unjust to those who made an attempt to remedy the grievous situation to rot in prison. These statements, along with the brutality of the Dublin police in dealing with Amnesty meetings only augmented the indignant feelings of the people of Ireland. Further support was found in England with Marx and the International Men's Working Association.

The greatest fear of the ruling class and the bourgeoisie was being realised. With the working classes of England and Ireland in cohorts, the Prime Minister and the British government feared a great popular uprising. Gladstone was forced to grant many of the demands of the Amnesty group to quell the unrest. About 100 of the prominent Fenian leaders and rebels were released and the rest were promised freedom in intervals there after.

Adding to the alarm of growing popular support for the cause of Irish Nationalism was large percentage of votes received by Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa while he rotted away in an English jail. Rossa was elected as a Member of Parliament in 1869 for Tipperary. Although he was declared ineligible as he was a "convicted felon," but the statement had already been made.

The growing support for nationalist politics was been melded together with the Fenian spirit and the Fenian intelligence. The newly proclaimed "Home Government Association for Ireland" contained men of all nationalistic backgrounds; from Catholic monarchist pacifists to communist militants.


*Tomorrow: The Rise of Parnell and Constitutional Nationalism.

  ¶ 4:05 a.m.