her neighbours. The mania of the French
for centralization was seen in their dealings with the Batavian
Republic, and with the Swiss Confederation, which they crushed into the
mould of an indivisible Republic. Everywhere the new unifying impulse
undermined or swept away local Parliaments or provincial Estates.
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in practice meant a single,
democratic, and centralized Government. In self defence the Powers
threatened by France borrowed her political weapons. In succession Great
Britain, Prussia, and for a time even Austria, pulled themselves
together for the struggle. As the binding powers of commerce also tended
towards union, the Nineteenth Century witnessed the absorption of little
States, except where they represented a distinct nationality.

Confronted by the new and threatening forces in France, Pitt was
virtually compelled to abrogate a system under which the Speaker of the
Irish House of Commons, and Ministers who had no definite
responsibility, could meddle in military affairs. Under the sway of Mars
dualism cannot exist. In the crises of a great war Cabals and Juntos go
by the board. The Irish Ministry was little more than a Junto; and
Ireland need not mourn its loss.

The loss of her Parliament was far more serious; and if that body had
represented the Irish people, Pitt's action would be indefensible. But
Grattan's Parliament represented only a small minority of the Irish
people; and that minority was resolved not to admit Catholics to full
civic rights. It would have fought to maintain Protestant Episcopalian
ascendancy; and under the conditions then existing England must have
drawn the sword on behalf of her exacting "garrison."

Even in ordinary times such a state of things was unbearable; and the
French saw it. Their aim was to strike at England through Ireland; and,
but for Bonaparte's dreams of conquest in the East, this blow would have
been dealt. Fortunately for Great Britain, his oriental ambitions served
to divert to the sands of Egypt a thunderbolt which would have been
fatal at Dublin. Even as it was, the mere presence of Bruix' great fleet
at Brest prolonged the ferment in Ireland, thus emphasizing the force of
the arguments in favour of Union. As we have seen, Pitt placed them in
the forefront of his speeches; and those who charge him with hypocrisy,
because France did not strike vigorously at Ireland during or after the
Rebellion of 1798, only expose their igno