Dublin as Imperial Capital

Historiographical Debate

 * Ireland can be evaluated as a colony
 * This allows Ireland to be understood/read through postcoloniality


 * Others find this offense (two nations were "in Union" )
 * If this is true, then they are not Postcolonial
 * Tradition of postcolonialism talks about racial othering/degradation of humanity of foreign host


 * Orientalism / Edward Said (published 1978)
 * Empire saturated Western World
 * All Western Nations completely engrossed in the act of building/maintaining Empire
 * Other nations not nations but "colonies"

Dublin as Imperial Capital

 * Moral critique of Empire --> Ireland could never flourish in the British Empire
 * Young Irelanders said this was not b/c of Empire but b/c of British


 * Irish & Indian linkning
 * Irish nationalists began to find Nationalist thinking from other contacts and to work/collaborate with them

Webb

 * Webb -> Dublin Intellectual
 * 1834 -1908
 * Son of Dublin Quakers / Printers / Publishers
 * Very anti-slavery
 * Belief in social justice -> Led to Irish Nationalism
 * Temperance movement


 * Inspired by Fenians
 * Recruited by "Home Government" committee in 1870's


 * He was civic rather than ethnic (believed in Ireland as a nation not formed by Irishness, but civic unity)
 * In 1890 elected MP for Waterford
 * Meets Indian nationalists advocating for Indian Home Rule
 * Developed theory of Home Rule into broad idea of how British Empire ought to function


 * Federation of affiliated nations


 * Home Rule meant affiliation/formal relationship, but respected autonomy


 * Ireland has dual position as colonized, and colonizing -> Unique positioning sets up Webb's belief that Ireland should lead the charge for reforming British Empire policy


 * Eventually Webb is invited to be President of Indian Nationalist Organization -> Ceremonial, but successful in raising awareness of Irish and Indian Nationalism


 * Returns to Ireland, resigns from Parliament

Taking the Saxon Shilling?

 * Boer War -> Catalyzes Irish opinion about Empire building


 * 1900 -> Queen Victoria travels to Ireland for the last time
 * Mostly to recruit people to British Army
 * Used Shamrock as a symbol (angered Webb b/c connects Shamrock with war)
 * "Saxon Shilling" Protest Song against British recruitment


 * Martial Races ->
 * British used certain social groups (like Sikhs) to fight wars
 * British may have considered Irish as a Martial Race


 * British Army -> seen as good Alternative to emigration

Indian Viceroys

 * Lord Mayo -> Indian Viceroy
 * Marquis of Dufferon
 * 1/3 of British Army in Ireland at time of Indian Mutiny


 * John Nicholson -> Irish soldier during Indian Mutiny in 1857
 * Became popular/romantic "Imperial" hero
 * Taken prisoner in Afghanistan
 * Found tortured corpse of his brother (witness to this causes Bitter hatred of the Afghans/people of Subcontinent)
 * Appointed Deputy Commissioner -> governed large tract of Northern India
 * Could be very violent/physically abusive
 * Forcibly shaved a religious leader who had no shown him respect


 * 1857 -> Rebellion in Indian Army against British rule
 * Becomes a Brigadier General -> Helped regain British control
 * Shot rebels by tying them to a cannon (then firing)
 * Led Punjab Column to re-conquer Delhi
 * Shot in street leading conquest
 * Died nine days later


 * Legacy shows us the complications of the Irish in British Empire (they can be heroes, though Irish, they can be dedicated to Ireland)
 * 20 % of British army at least