Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/84

70 like all other laws, had been framed with the view of preserving the ascendancy of the English pale and of the Protestant religion. It is true that with the carefully restricted franchise which then existed, from which the Celtic and the Catholic elements were as far as possible excluded, the members sent to Parliament represented mainly such sections of the community as were opposed to change, and were in harmony with the general policy of the Conservative government. Yet when Irish questions came up for discussion, it was found that they presented aspects to which the traditions and principles of English parties did not apply, and on no question did the new contingent naturally and thoroughly agree with the old political forces.

The consequence was what may be called an unstable equilibrium of parties, and uncertainty as to the line which ordinary politicians would take on any particular question. On Irish subjects, then, it happened that as the old party formularies could not be applied, the opinions, feelings, and wishes of the people had to be more and more considered, and Radical principles of government had, either consciously or unconsciously, to be adopted. Thus, both by the weakening and partial disintegration of the Tory and Whig parties and by the enforced introduction of popular ideas and tests, there were gradually established conditions favourable to the growth and power of Radicalism. The effect of these conditions upon the fate of English cabinets has been very remarkable. Four times since the union have Tory Ministries been either absolutely shattered or hopelessly weakened by their action on questions which were either entirely Irish or complicated by peculiar relation to Ireland, and more than once have Whig or Liberal governments suffered from the same causes. The first instance was the immediate result of the conditions under which the Act of Union was passed, Pitt himself resigning and breaking up his Cabinet because the King would not consent to Catholic emancipation. Twice afterwards did the same question destroy the solidarity and power of the Conservatives: once when the party leaders