15 - Constructive Unionism, 1886–1906

Summary

Interpretations

The Irish fin de siècle has often been seen as culturally rich but politically uninteresting. However true the former, the latter is rather unfair as it fails to do justice to what some historians have described as a silent revolution, no less significant for being comparatively discreet. The Conservative government's legislation certainly lacks Gladstonian fanfare and overt ‘missionary’ drive. Parnell's demise left Irish leadership with a charisma crisis. There is, it could be argued, a relative lack of surface drama whenever the Conservatives are in power, which was for much of the period 1885 to 1906. This was perhaps because change was effected tactfully and cautiously by the very party who were disinclined to trumpet change at all. Even as it was, many of their efforts met with ‘little praise’ and won them ‘no new friends’ in Ireland, according to O'Halpin, whose focus is on the decline of the Union. Not all historians would see it so. Lyons points to the ‘steady and undramatic, but nevertheless profound, social and economic change’ which made people more prosperous and more content with their lot. Gailey, among others, has set the roots of Ireland post-1921 in this very period. At root, one could see the Conservative policy in these years as a practical effort to pacify Ireland. It could even be read as an attempt to depoliticise the Irish Question – if that were at all possible – by killing Home Rule with kindness. Of course, kindness is only a half-truth.