History of the Irish Rebellion in 1798: Memoirs of the Union, Emmett's Insurrection in 1803 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from History of the Irish Rebellion in 1798: Memoirs of the Union, Emmett's Insurrection in 1803

Like the story of a life, the history of kingdoms is generall preg nant with vicissitude. The sudden rise or rapid dissolution 0 a state is rarely brought about - the fall of empires is gradual - all have their era of danger or prosperity - and to avert the one and improve the other is the best test of an able and efficient executive.

The most startling period of European history will be found to embrace that stormy interval, occurring between the outbreak of the French revolution, and the legislative act, which, abolishing a faulty home government, made Ireland an integral portion of the British empire. From political evil, political good will frequently arise; and after a painful and sanguinary probation, that consolidation of British influence and power was accomplished, which enabled England in fifteen brief years afterwards to restore the tranquillity of Europe, while her own national dignity was amply vindicated, and lasting advantages secured.

For twenty years before the French revolution broke forth in all its horrors, the evil star of England had been in the ascendant. The colonies were driven into rebellion; and that discontent which had government had induced was consummated by worse measures, and the states separated from the mother-country. The temper of the times was unfriendly to concession - when the sword was drawn the scabbard was thrown away - and sanative diplomacy was not the course resorted to by the Court of St. James to reclaim her unruly but ill-used children. TO coerce, and not conciliate, was the evil policy of the personages in power - bad statesmanship did for America what her own exertions could not have achieved - and England, by rejecting their complaints, forced independence on her refractory colonists.

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