In 1869 Mr. Gladstone disestablished the Irish Church,
a measure which immediately and effectively solved one
of the three problems which he recognised. Needless to
say the proposal was bitterly denounced, but it would be
hard to-day to find any considerable body of opinion which
would refuse to recognise that this measure was just, wise.
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and beneficial. In 1873 Mr. Gladstone attempted to deal
with the Irish University problem and failed; this failure
being the prelude of his defeat in the general election that
followed. Between his signal success and his signal
failure came his first Irish Land Act of 1870, which made
a considerable advance towards granting the demands of
the Irish peasantry, but which in practice did not work
very well.
