Historical text analysis-Daniel O\'Conell, Justice for Ireland (1836) PDF

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Daniel O'Conell, Justice for Ireland (1836)...

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HISTORICAL TEXT ANALYSIS Daniel O’Connell. Justice for Ireland. 1836

MUNDOS ANGLÓFONOS EN PERSPECTIVA HISTÓRICA Y CULTURAL PRIMERA PRUEBA DE EVALUACIÓN CONTINUA – PRIMER SEMESTRE

Aintzane Landeta

HISTORICAL TEXT ANALYSIS

Content: Historical text analysis: Daniel O’Connell. Justice for Ireland. 1836 ............................................. 2 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 7

AINTZANE LANDETA

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HISTORICAL TEXT ANALYSIS

Historical text analysis: Daniel O’Connell. Justice for Ireland. 1836 Justice for Ireland is a historical-political text; more accurately, is a speech given by Daniel O’Connell on February 4, 1836 during the Opening of Parliament in the House of Commons. Daniel O’Connell is the historical figure known as the Liberator of Ireland. He is the most important political figure of Irish politics of the first half of the XIX century. He dedicated most of his life campaigning for the catholic emancipation. Until 1800, Ireland had its own separate Parliament which included many Catholic members. However, in 1801 the British Act of Union became effective and, Great Britain and Ireland joined becoming the United Kingdom. Consequently, the Irish Parliament was dissolved and, from then on, Ireland was ruled entirely from London. This change represented a problem since King George III only allowed Church of England Irish to take part in the British Parliament. This left the Catholic Irish, which were around 85%, with no representation in the government, and aggravated the inequity between Roman Catholics and Protestants. O’Connell was against the Union Act. However, throughout his life, he never supported the use of violence and insisted on pacific ways to achieve his objectives. This is the reason he did not support the rebellion of 1798 or Robert Emmet’s attempt to break the bond with Britain. Instead, he opted to use politics as a platform to communicate his thoughts on this matter and as a tool of change. In 1811 he founded the Catholic Board, and the Catholic Association in 1823. The association’s aim was to better the life of the Irish Catholics through electoral reform, reform of the protestant Church of Ireland role in the state, tenant’s rights and economic development. In 1824 the Catholic Association growth dramatically when O’Connell introduced the penny-a- month contribution. As this modest contribution was thought for allowing even the peasants to ascribe the movement. The collected money was used to sustain the Catholic Emancipation Campaign (1800-1829). The Catholic Emancipation Campaign lead by O’Connell is known to be the first mass democratic movement. Thanks to this movement, Irish Catholics recover their dignity, and were convinced that they were more than mere slaves. In addition, the fame of O’Connell was greatly improved, and he started to be known as The Liberator. AINTZANE LANDETA

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In 1828 O’Connell even ran for Parliament and received a huge margin of Irish votes but he could not become a member unless he took the Oath of Supremacy, which he did not do as it meant abjure his religion. This fact showed the notorious influence O’Connell had gathered. The Prime Minister (the Duke of Wellington), and the Home Secretary were aware of this. Therefore, they both persuaded King George IV and in 1829 the Roman Catholic Relief Act was passed, which allowed Roman Catholics to become part of the British House of Commons. Unfortunately, the Act was not retroactive, and O’Connell had to stand for election again. In 1830 he finally obtained his seat in Parliament. This small victory did not stop his war against inequity and his next fight was against the Tithe. This was a compulsory payment that land tenants, which were mostly Catholics, had to made to the Church of England. Independently from their religious adscription, a tenth of the annual produce of agriculture had to be given for the support of the Church of England. Between 1831 and 1836 O’Connell organized a non -violent civil disobedience campaign to abolish the payment of the Tithes. Unfortunately, this disobedience had unexpected consequences and the tension led to the Tithe War. O’Connell never supported violence, but he fought in court to get all the participants of the Carricksock battle absolved. It is in this context, when Daniel O’Connell gave this speech in the Parliament. The text is addressed in the first place to the Members of Parliament presented in the meeting. He wanted to ask them for justice for Ireland. On second place, it was addressed to the Catholic Irish that supported him since he delivers a message of hope as he kept fighting for Catholic rights. And finally, to those who were contrary to him and what he wanted to achieve; as he wanted to send the message that there was no possibility of surrender on this matter. In the beginning of this speech he introduces the topic he is going to talk about, the injustice Ireland is suffering. And he presents what he wants: the same rights England and Scotland have for Ireland. Ireland had been under English control since the XII century after the invasion of Henry the II in 1169. When Henry the VIII decided to part from Roman Church four centuries later, England, Wales and Scotland became mostly protestant whereas Ireland remained Catholic. This and other causes lead to Ireland to try to detach itself from England in several occasions.

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HISTORICAL TEXT ANALYSIS

Ireland achieve some legislative independency in 1782 when they lead the example the American revolution had set in 1775. However, it did not last long since in 1801 England convince Irish Members of Parliament to vote in favour of the Act of Union and all the powers were transferred to the British Parliament. During all those years the Irish had been treated brutally. They were considered by the English different because of their religion and their lack of loyalty to the English government. Irish people did have small rights on their land, they did not have right to vote or sit in the Parliament or any other civil right. Therefore, most Irish lived in extreme poverty and suffered abuse because of their religious believes. As this unfair situation had been prolonged for several years it was considered natural for Protestants. Meanwhile, for Catholics it was unfair, and it had to be fought. O’Connell was aware of this and the critic is presented in his discourse. In the first half of the first paragraph, O’Connell describe how natural was for Lord Stanley to stand against Ireland. And despite the discontent of some Members of Parliament he continued his speech about the injustice of Ireland. He knew this was an uncomfortable topic, but he believed there was a necessity to talk about it since he was the representative of Irish catholic people: “I stand in a situation in which no man ever stood yet -- the faithful friend of my country -- its servant -- its stave, if you will -- I speak its sentiments by turns to you and to itself.” (O'Connell). Furthermore, for the first time in many years Irish people had representation in the parliament and they have deposited their hopes in O’Connell. He was aware of it: “I am the living representative of those hope” (O'Connell) and he wanted to use this power to defend the interest of the Irish: “the question is one in the highest degree interesting to the people of Ireland” (O'Connell). He is aware of the opinion this issue awakes and the stance of his detractors: “There are some men who will even declare that they are willing to refuse justice to Ireland; while there are others who, though they are ashamed to say so, are ready to consummate the iniquity, and they do so.” (O'Connell). For them, as Protestants, the Irish injustice is not relevant, and they rather focus on the success of their foreign policy. France and the United Kingdom fully cooperated in obtaining accession treaties with 3 more small states: AINTZANE LANDETA

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the Hanseatic League, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Tuscany (Kielstra). But O’Connell nevertheless tries to stand out the Irish problem. He recriminates to the King and the Government that they stand out the country’s victories in foreign matters while they neglect domestic affairs. In the last paragraph O’Connell ensured that he was not willing to let this problem be forgotten. He remarked that he was not going to stop for money and that he was not going to be silenced. He wanted the same rights for the Irish people. For him, it was only just that the people from Ireland had the same rights as the people from England and Whales. He reminded to the Members of Parliament that the power he had was not derived by the words he spoke in the Parliament but from the Irish people who supported him. The support they give was conditioned by the injustice they were living, therefore, the more they were neglected the more support O’Connell received. The easiest way to finish with O’Connell’s power was not to defame him or his alliances but to give him and Irish people what they demanded. He begins his speech stating that he does not want fake support of his cause or insincere approval to it. What he wants is not words but deeds or as he expressed: “‘lip service’ […]; we do not want that.” (O'Connell). Ireland already had had promises that were not fulfilled. Such as in 1800 when British had promised to approve the Catholic Emancipation together with the Act of Union. And he finishes his speech by warning the Parliament that the Irish will not stop fighting until they achieved their rights. “[…] and withholding that justice from Ireland which she will not cease to seek till it is obtained” (O'Connell). Indeed, O’Connell remained a thorn in the side of British authorities as he continued organizing mass rallies around the country (also noun a Monster Rallies). In 1843 the Prime Minister banned one of this rallies in Clontarf, Co. Dublin. Although, O’Connell called off the meeting, he was arrested, charged with conspiracy and imprisoned. Unfortunately, he never saw his dreams fulfilled as he died in Genoa in 1847. But the spirit of fight remained with the Irish and after almost 800 years of fights and riots they finally became and independent nation. Northern Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom but despite of this, both countries have come to stability and enjoy peace.

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HISTORICAL TEXT ANALYSIS

This text is relevant as it is a speech given by one of the most relevant historical figures of the first half of the XIX century. Thanks to it we can see a sample of the speech abilities of this leader and his great capacity to “overturn constitution by constitutional means” (Hoppen). The nonviolent methods this leader used to achieve a change have influenced people around the glove such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. He is still a figure of admiration and his sculpture can be found in the main street of Dublin which was named after him when he died. In my opinion, Daniel O’Connell is a figure of great interest. It is admirable how he managed to change a country using nonviolent techniques. For me, he had to be a very charismatic and clever leader to convince such an immense quantity of people to follow him. Those who loved him, must had been impressed by his personality, his energy and enthusiasm and his oratorical gifts. It had to be a man who could not let anyone indifferent.

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Bibliography Hoppen, K. Theodore. “Riding a Tiger: Daniel O'Connell, Reform, and Popular Politics in Ireland, 1800-1847.” Hoppen, K. Theodore. Procedings-British academy. Vol-100. Oxford university press INC., 1999. Kielstra, P. “1833-1840.” Kielstra, P. The politics of slave trade supression in Britain and France, 1814-1848: Diplomacy Morality and economics. Springer: Palgrave. McMillian, 2000. 388. 07 diciembre 2018. . Mulraney, F. irishcentral.com. 13 Enero 2018. 06 12 2018. . O'Connell. “Justice for Ireland.” Ed. The history place. 04 febrero 1836. Robinson, M. “Daniel O’Connell: A tribute.” History Ireland. Ireland's history magazine. 5.4 (1997): 26-31. 05 diciembre 2018. .

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