e
influence of past legislation, not only upon the material condition, but
also upon the character of a nation. In no other history especially can
we investigate more fully the evil consequences which must ensue from
disregarding that sentiment of nationality which, whether it be wise or
foolish, whether it be desirable or the reverse, is at least one of the
strongest and most enduring of human passions. This, as I conceive, lies
at the root of Irish discontent. It is a question of nationality as
truly as in Hungary or in Poland. Special grievances or anomalies may
aggravate, but do not cause it, and they become formidable only in as
far as they are connected with it. What discontent was felt against the
Protestant Established Church was felt chiefly because it was regarded
as an English garrison sustaining an anti-national system; and the
agrarian difficulty never assumed its full intensity till by the repeal
agitation the landlords had been politically alienated from the
people."[28]

Let those who imagine that the Irish question can be completely settled
by the redress of material grievances take those words to heart.

But, it is said, Scotch national sentiment is as strong as Irish, why
should not a legislative union be as acceptable to Ireland as to
Scotland? Mr. Lecky shall answer this question too.

"It is hardly possible to advert to the Scotch Union, without pausing
for a moment to examine why its influence on the loyalty of the people
should have ultimately been so much happier than that of the legislative
union which, nearly a century later, was enacted between England and
Ireland. A very slight attention to the circumstances of the case will
explain the mystery, and will at the same time show the extreme
shallowness of those theorists who can only account for it by reference
to original peculiarities of national character. The sacrifice of a
nationality is a measure which naturally produces such intense and such
enduring discontent that it never should be exacted unless it can be
accompanied by some political or material advantages to the lesser
country that are so great and at the same time so evident as to prove a
corrective. Such a corrective in the case of Scotland, was furnished by
the commercial clauses. The Scotch Parliament was very arbitrary and
corrupt, and by no means a faithful representation of the people. The
majority of the nation were certainly opposed to the Union, and,
directly or indi