164 ENGLAND IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, 
and reforms for which he and his followers had been yearning 
Gladstone during the days of Palmerston, No party ever 
prime came into power with so many pledges to fulfil, 
minister, and the Liberals made a conscientious attempt 10 
discharge them all. "They had to prove that they were the real 
friends of the people, and that Disraeli was a mere charlatan. 
“ Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform” were to reign everywhere, 
"The first problem taken in hand by Gladstone was that 
of Ireland. He held that Irish discontent was not sentimental 
Disestablish- and national, but caused by practical grievances— 
ment ofthe a view which later events have proved to bc 
Irish Church. „ntenable. "Then, however, the whole Liberal 
party pinned its faith to the theory, "The first measure taken 
in hand was the disestablishment of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church of Ireland. As it existed in 1869, it was certainly an 
odd anomaly, for, though it claimed to be the State Church of 
the island, not more than one-fifth of the population belonged 
to it. In spite of the opposition of the Irish bishops and 
gentry, it was deprived of its endowments and its official 
status. But it retained its churches and cathedrals, and its 
clergy received personal compensation for their losses, "U’hc 
effect on the Irish Church was excellent: when freed from 
State control and allowed to govern itself it showed unexpected 
strength and vigour, and has been ever since a growing and 
flourishing body. Nonconformist enthusiasts who dreamed in 
3868 that the Church of England might soon suffer the same 
fate as the sister establishment, have long since got over their‘ 
disappointment. 
Having, as he hoped, done something to conciliate Irish 
Romanists by the Disestablishment Act, Gladstone then pro” 
| ceeded to deal with the more difficult question 
LE, of the land. "The absolute dependence of the 
poor peasantıy of Ireland on landlords who were 
often absentees, and sometimes careless of all duties and bent 
on raising the last possible farthing of rent, was believed to be