Above : Irish Church From 19th Century

THE Fenian outbreak had both enraged and astonished the English people. They had believed that the Irish had no longer any cause to be dis¬contented with the rule of the British Government; that, in point of fact, they were not discontented. At first indignation was the more prominent feeling, but, when this had had time to cool, the more thoughtful began to seek an explanation, not chiefly of the actions of the Fenian themselves, but of the general sympathy with which they were regarded by huge numbers of people in every part of Ireland who had been in no way connected with the rebellion.
The most probable explanation appeared to be that there were still grievances unredressed ; the most obvious course was to endeavour to redress them.
Projects of Disestablishment existed.

The Cause of Strife

James