Instead  of  the  pike  and  drum  with  which  we  were  distracted  last
summer  this  year  shows  us  the  reading-room^  maps^  books^  papers^
the  furniture  of  the  mind,  not  of  the  barracks.  Instead  of
battle-fields  and  assembled  myriads  we  are  to  have  a  more
peaceful  discipline^  combination  against  the  excise,  against
spirits,  tobacco,  tea,  coffee  and  against  all  manufactures  that
are  not  of  Irish  production.  When  to  this  we  add  a  very
possible  revival  of  the  Arbitration  Courts,  we  have  described  a
system  of  agitation  which  if  properly  and  heroically  worked  into
practice  will  succeed.''

The  Eveninff  Packet,  the  most  violent  of  the  Govern-
ment journals  in  Ireland,  shrieked  that  no  device  of
treason  hitherto  invented  had  proved  so  mischievoud
as  the  Beading  Booms  were  destined  to  become,  and
that  the  moderation  of  the  leaders  was  a  mask  for  the
worst  purposes.
But  the  men  who  had  designed  this  policy  knew
better  than  their  opponents  to  how  many  dangers  it
was  liable.  A  Celtic  people  will  make  great  immediate
sacrifices,  and  endure  the  extremity  of  ruin  for  a  cause
they  love.  They  will  return  again  and  again  to  a
purpose  with  clinging  but  fitful  devotion;  but  they
do  not  willingly  settle  down  into  the  patient  pursuit
of  an  end  which  is  confessedly  distant  and  even
doubtful.     And  they  are  easily  turned  aside  by  novelty.
Mr.  John  O'Connell,  who  regarded  the  succession
to  the  popular  tribunate  as  his  entailed  estate,  and  did
not  look  with  equanimity  on  possible  competitors,  was
the  first  to  demur.  An  incident  which  might  have
led  to  disastrous  consequences  was  attributed — rightly


508  YOJJNQ  IRELAND.
