Explanation: It was not English arms, but the English Constitution, that conquered Ireland.
Answer: The sentence has been extracted from Edmund Burke's "Speech on Conciliation with America", an unforgettable piece in the tradition of British parliamentary speeches. Burke here, by citing the example of Ireland, proposes his plan of conciliation with American people.
In the "Speech on Conciliation with America" Edmund Burke makes a fierce and imperishable campaign against the policy of trying to coerce the American colonies and upholds his policy of compromise. He prefers the policy of concession because it is a historically proven policy and it is possible within the provisions of the 'British Constitution.' He takes the example of Ireland. Burke says that it is not English arms, i.e., force or coercion or subtle diplomacy calculated to deprive the Irish people of their rights and privileges that conquered Ireland. Initially when constitutional rights were granted only to the English settlers in that country, anarchy prevailed in the rest of Ireland and the authority of the English was obeyed only in those areas where English liberties were extended. But during the reign of James I the scenario changed with the establishment of a Parliament. Ireland was granted the benefits of the
English Constitution. Ireland was also made a co-sharer of the benefits, improvements and blessings of the Magna Charta. As a result, the whole country became peaceful and loyal to the British power. Thus, Ireland becomes a historical precedence. Burke here underlines that the best way to bring back the good old relations between the mother-country and the American colonies would be granting Constitutional rights to them. He also opposes the use of force here.
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