After Limerick
or between loyalists and rebels, but the last desperate fight between two hostile races and religions. Legally speaking the Irish were supporting their lawful sovereign; practically they were striking a blow for their country's freedom. But the attempt, like all others, failed, and Ireland had again to yield to the superior force of England.
Now, this final conquest of Ireland gave to England an unique opportunity. It was in her power to lead Ireland forward in the path of English culture and civilization, to unite into one nation the two races of English and Irish, to develop the wealth of Ireland, and make her people loyal supporters of the empire. Perhaps such a policy on the part of England was too much to expect at such a time of bigotry and race hatred, when all the most evil passions in men's natures had just been awakened. Certainly it was not the policy pursued by England, and for the whole of this period Ireland was treated partly as a conquered country, partly as a colonial dependency. Her industry and commerce were suppressed and hampered in the interests of English manufacturers; her finances were manipulated in order to put as much as possible into the pockets of Englishmen; the most lucrative posts in the Irish Government, Church, and Army,
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