Editing Freeman's Journal (section)

===Voice of constitutional nationalism===
In the 19th century it became more nationalist in tone, particularly under the control and inspiration of [[John Gray (Irish politician)|Sir John Gray]] (1815–75).

''The Journal'', as it was widely known as, was the leading newspaper in Ireland throughout the 19th century. Contemporary sources record it being read to the largely illiterate population by priests and local teachers gathering in homes. It was mentioned in contemporary literature and was seen as symbolising [[Irish newspapers]] for most of its time. By the 1880s it had become the primary media supporter of [[Charles Stewart Parnell]] and the [[Irish Parliamentary Party]] (IPP). The weekend edition of the paper was known as '''''The Weekly Freeman''''', which began featuring large format political cartoons in the 1870s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.princeton.edu/~graphicarts/2010/12/freemans_weekly.html |title=Weekly Freeman Cartoons|first1=Julie L.|last1=Mellby|publisher=[[Princeton University Library]]|date=December 6, 2010}}</ref>

It was challenged on all sides by rivals. On the nationalist side some preferred ''[[The Nation (Irish newspaper)|The Nation]]'' founded by [[Thomas Osborne Davis (Irish politician)|Thomas Davis]] while others, including radical supporters of Parnell, read the ''[[United Irishman]]''. The [[Protestant Ascendancy|Anglo-Irish establishment]] in contrast read the historically [[Unionism (Ireland)|Irish unionist]] ''[[The Irish Times]]''. With the split in the IPP over Parnell's relationship with [[Katharine O'Shea]], its readership split too. While  ''The Journal'' in September 1891<ref>Freeman's Journal 22 September 1891</ref> eventually went with the majority in [[Irish National Federation|opposing Parnell]], a minority moved to read the ''[[Daily Irish Independent]]''. It was also challenged from the turn of the century by [[William O'Brien]]'s ''Irish People'' and the ''[[Cork Free Press]]''. With [[Thomas Sexton (Irish politician)|Thomas Sexton]] becoming Chairman of the Board of Directors (1893–1911),  the Journal languished under his spartanic management.