Parnell 5 - The Irish National League and Parnell's Growing Power

The Irish National League, 1882

• Initially, Parnell was hesitant to organise a new national political movement, mainly due to the difficulties he experienced in controlling the Land League.
• However, it became evident that the Home Rule Party would gain more influence at Westminster with the support of Irish public opinion.
• In October 1882, Parnell founded the Irish National League as a replacement for both the Land League and Home Rule League. The National League's main aims were:

  • Home Rule: National self-government was the primary goal.

  • Land reform: The League supported the transfer of land ownership from landlord to tenant.

  • Local self-government: It advocated for locally elected councils.

  • Extension of voting rights: The League supported reforms to widen voting rights.

  • Irish industrial development: The League demanded greater attention to Irish economic interests.

    

  • This was the first time a single organisation had been set up in Ireland with such wide-ranging aims. It meant the new movement could attract a broad appeal and incorporate a variety of viewpoints. Nevertheless, the goal of Home Rule overshadowed all other aims.

Parnell's Control of the League

• Parnell was determined to have a controlling influence over the new movement. The National League was to be directed by a central council of 48 members.
• Thirty-two members were to be selected by county conventions; 16 were to represent the parliamentary party.
• In practice, the party controlled the council, which meant Parnell ultimately controlled it. He ensured the parliamentary party would dominate the League and shape its direction.
• This was to avoid a repetition of the Land War years when the Land League, rather than the party, set the agenda. Some resented the power Parnell had acquired. Michael Davitt later wrote that the foundation of the National League was:

"A masterstroke by Parnell in the art of political strategy."

The Success of the National League

• By the end of 1885, the National League had become a powerful movement that dominated Irish politics. In many respects, the new movement exceeded even Parnell's ambitious expectations.
  • National organisation: By 1885, the movement had more than 1,200 branches in Ireland.
  • Finance: The League was very successful in raising funds. In its third year, it raised £50,000.
  • Irish-America: The League utilised established links with Irish-Americans to gather support.
• The 1884 Reform Act bolstered the League's influence. It increased the Irish electorate to over 700,000 and gave 50% of adult males the right to vote. Most of these new voters were likely to support Home Rule.

Parnell's Growing Power

• In preparation for the 1885 general election, Parnell introduced a party pledge to ensure all Home Rule Party members were fully committed to the cause. All candidates had to take the pledge:

Quote: "To sit, act, and vote with the Irish Parliamentary Party."

• The enforcement of a party pledge contrasted sharply with the freedom allowed by Butt. Parnell wanted a tightly controlled parliamentary party.
• This approach maximised the Irish party's power at Westminster. It also meant that anyone who challenged Parnell could be accused of disloyalty.

Parnell's Relationship with His MPs

• While many party members respected Parnell, his leadership style was sometimes harsh. He displayed a strong sense of determination and purpose as a leader, encouraging and inspiring those around him.
• However, he often seemed cold and distant, and his arrogance led him to treat other MPs very casually.

The Parnell Tribute, 1883

• Parnell's primary source of income was his family estate of Avondale. His political career left him with little time to manage its affairs.
• The estate slipped into heavy debt of about £18,000 (about €1 million). In 1883, Parnell put the estate up for sale. His financial problems distracted him from politics and could have harmed his career, as any MP declared bankrupt had to resign his seat.
• When the scale of Parnell's financial problems became known, members of the National League organised a public fund, the Parnell Tribute.
• Parnell's supporters believed he had paid a heavy price for helping Ireland and that it was time for Ireland to do something to help him. Parnell did not try to block the collection.
• The National League organised the fund across Ireland and abroad, receiving strong support from the nationalist Archbishop Croke of Cashel and the Freeman's Journal newspaper.

Parnell and the Catholic Church

• Parnell had strong Church supporters, such as Archbishop Croke, but many Church leaders were suspicious of him because of his Protestant background and links with the IRB.
• Parnell encouraged Catholic Church involvement in the Home Rule movement. All clergy members were allowed to attend meetings of the National League.
• By the end of 1884, Church leaders allowed Parnell's party to represent its interests in Westminster.
• This helped increase support for Parnell's movement and meant that Protestants became increasingly suspicious of the Home Rule movement.
• Catholic Church support helped build up Parnell's power, but in 1890–91, it would help to destroy him.

The Liberal Response to Parnell

• By 1885, it seemed possible that Parnell and his party could hold the balance of power after the next general election.
• With over one million Irish voters in Britain, the outcome of the next election would be influenced by the Irish Question. This realisation forced the main British parties to give greater priority to Irish issues.

The Central Board Scheme

• Joseph Chamberlain was a leading Liberal and head of the radical wing of the Liberal Party. In 1885, he proposed the Central Board Scheme, a measure of local government reform.
• Under this scheme, an Irish council would be set up to examine Irish issues. Although it fell short of Home Rule, Parnell and other Home Rule leaders were interested in it.
• Parnell allowed Captain O'Shea to act as a representative in negotiations with Chamberlain.
• Parnell saw the Central Board Scheme as a step towards Home Rule, but O'Shea gave Chamberlain the impression that Parnell was prepared to accept it as a final settlement of the Irish Question.
• Chamberlain later felt misled by Parnell, damaging their relationship. The following year, the First Home Rule Bill was introduced.

The Conservative Responses to Parnell

• The Central Board Scheme was dropped, and in May 1885, Gladstone reintroduced coercion. In June 1885, the Home Rulers and Conservatives united to defeat the government on a budget vote.
• Gladstone resigned, and a general election could not be held until November because the revision of constituencies under the 1884 Reform Act was incomplete. Instead, a temporary Conservative government led by Lord Salisbury was formed.
• During this time, Parnell met with leading Conservatives, including Lord Randolph Churchill. Parnell knew that a Home Rule Bill introduced by the Conservatives would have a better chance of passing. They did not revive the Coercion Act.
• The Ashbourne Land Act, 1885 was introduced, allowing tenant farmers to buy their land holdings.
• This marked a significant political shift, as an unlikely alliance developed between Parnell and the Conservative Party, influencing the 1885 general election.

Was Parnell a Success as a Leader (1875-85)?

• Parnell successfully unified various nationalist factions under the Home Rule League and later the Irish National League, creating a more cohesive movement.
• He championed tenant rights, which led to the 1881 Land Act, which implemented the 'Three Fs'—free sale, fixity of tenure, and fair rent.
• Parnell demonstrated strong leadership by controlling the direction of the nationalist movement, maintaining discipline, and using strategic political manoeuvres.
• His leadership saw significant electoral success, increasing the number of Irish nationalist MPs and strengthening their influence in Westminster.
• Parnell's negotiation skills were evident in the Kilmainham Treaty of 1882, which led to concessions from the British government.
• He effectively garnered support and financial backing from the Irish-American community, bolstering the nationalist cause.
  • Despite internal divisions and external pressures, Parnell managed to maintain a relatively peaceful and organised movement.
  • However, Parnell's financial problems and the Phoenix Park Murders in 1882 posed significant challenges, temporarily undermining his leadership and the movement's progress.