Liberals and the Home Rule issue, November 1885-July 1886 : the leaders and the rank and file, with special reference to certain localities
This study of the Irish Home Rule crisis of 1885-6 arises from a sense of the limitations of an exclusively 'high political' approach. It seeks to show how Liberal policy makers related to their supporters in Britain, and how the rank and file both influenced and responded to their leaders' initiatives. Within the framework of a national portrait, certain areas receive special attention: much of the evidence relates to the traditional Liberal strongholds of south-west England, west Yorkshire, Tyneside, south-central Wales and the Birmingham and Edinburgh regions. This dissertation seeks an answer to the question: how was it that, in 1886, a majority of Liberals came to accept the idea of Home Rule, which was hitherto the property of an uninfluential radical minority? Chapter One places the espousal of Home Rule by the Liberal leader, Gladstone, in a broad chronological context and explores the roots of the uneasy relationship between British Liberalism and Irish nationalism. This theme is further developed in Chapters Two and Three. The fourth chapter examines Liberal perceptions of Ireland as a strategic and imperial problem; and a related issue, the neglected controversy over Irish representation at Westminster,
Goodlad, Graham David
Irish Home Rule crisis 1885/6
Liberals and the Home Rule issue, November 1885-July 1886 : the leaders and the rank and file, with special reference to certain localities. This study of the Irish Home Rule crisis of 1885-6 arises from a sense of the limitations of an exclusively 'high political' approach. It seeks to show how Liberal policy makers related to their supporters in Britain, and how the rank and file both influenced and responded to their leaders' initiatives. Within the framework of a national portrait, certain areas receive special attention: much of the evidence relates to the traditional Liberal strongholds of south-west England, west Yorkshire, Tyneside, south-central Wales and the Birmingham and Edinburgh regions. This dissertation seeks an answer to the question: how was it that, in 1886, a majority of Liberals came to accept the idea of Home Rule, which was hitherto the property of an uninfluential radical minority? Chapter One places the espousal of Home Rule by the Liberal leader, Gladstone, in a broad chronological context and explores the roots of the uneasy relationship between British Liberalism and Irish nationalism. This theme is further developed in Chapters Two and Three. The fourth chapter examines Liberal perceptions of Ireland as a strategic and imperial problem; and a related issue, the neglected controversy over Irish representation at Westminster,
home rule issue leader rank_file special_reference certain locality study irish home rule crisis arises sense limitation exclusively high political approach seek_show liberal policy_maker related supporter britain rank_file influence respond leader initiative within_framework national portrait certain_area receive special_attention much evidence_relate traditional liberal stronghold south_west_england west_yorkshire tyneside south_central wales birmingham edinburgh region seek_answer question majority come accept idea home rule hitherto property radical minority place home rule liberal leader broad chronological_context explore root relationship british liberalism irish nationalism theme_develop two_three fourth_examines liberal perception ireland strategic imperial problem related_issue neglect controversy irish representation westminster