Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/354

After Limerick the Irish Catholics by England can only be compared with the persecution of the people of the Low Countries by Spain. In both cases the persecution was conducted by an alien power, and therefore rendered doubly bitter to the victims. But the Irish people were far more terribly helpless, concerted resistance was impossible, and nothing could be done until English misgovernment had succeeded in alienating the Irish Protestants, so that they, as well as the Catholics, were ready to unite in the struggle for freedom.

From 1775 the whole history of Ireland was to change completely, and for one brief period we see something like an Irish nation. For the first time in her history England was to be confronted with a united Ireland, strong in her determination to win her just rights, and carried along on a wave of patriotic enthusiasm such as seldom happens twice in a nation's life. But nothing of this took place until Grattan and other patriots appeared on the scene ready to champion the cause of the Catholics, and making it their aim to cure the religious feud of a century and to unite all classes and sections in Ireland into one nation inspired with nothing but a great love for their country. In the history before 1775 we see nothing of this. It is true 342