GOVERNMENT'S MISTAKE.

5

power, influenced as it was of necessity by the opinions of its members most advanced in political thought, would lightly have consented to any curtailment of this popular privilege. Most Englishmen know little about Ireland or the character of its people, and still less of the manner in which the Irish should be ruled. The leaders of the people have never failed to take advantage of this ignorance. The most vehement protestations were made as to the strictly "constitutional" nature of the movement, the legality of its means, and the righteousness of its ends. It took a year and a half to convince the Liberal party that it was being befooled in the House of Commons by a set of impostors, and laughed at in Ireland by a combination of rebels. By this time, however, the leaders of the Land League had so consolidated the movement and so extended its organisation, that they cared little for the opinions of the Liberal party, or for any action the Government was likely to take.

The Land League was indeed getting bold.

6

MEETING AT SAINTFIELD.

In October 1880 it was proposed to hold a meeting under its auspices in the county of Down, known in Ireland as "the loyal county of Down." People rubbed their eyes, and wondered whether the report was true, and, if so, whether the Government would permit the meeting to be held. It had been customary to occasionally celebrate St Patrick's Day in the southern part of the county towards the Mourne Mountains, where the Roman Catholic population sought refuge from their persecutors in days happily gone by, and where their descendants are now alone to be found in this county in any numbers. No one dreamed of a serious proposition to hold a Land League meeting in the county for the dissemination of treason, plunder, and crime. All doubt, however, was soon set at rest by the appearance of large green placards posted about the county, proclaiming that the Land League would hold a meeting at Saintfield on the 23d October 1880. Mr Dillon, M.P., Mr Biggar, M.P., Mr Davitt, and others were

PEACE PREPARATIONS.

7

announced as speakers.

It thus appeared

that not only had the Land League determined on holding its meeting, but had decided to do so in the very heart of the county.

I was at this time resident magistrate of the town of Belfast. A few days before the date on which the meeting was to be held, I received instructions from the Lord Lieutenant

to "assist in preserving the peace" upon the occasion. I arranged for 600 men of the Royal Irish Constabulary to be on the ground, for there were rumours of a determined attack being made upon the meeting by a well-organised gathering of Orangemen. Going to Saintfield early on the morning of the 23d, I had an interview with the local leaders of the loyalists, and informed them that as my duty was to protect the Land League meeting, it would naturally be impossible to allow a counter-demonstration in its immediate vicinity, and that, above all things, I trusted the necessity would not arise, in performing this

8

THE ORANGE PROTEST.

duty, for the use of any force against loyal men. The public-houses were ordered to be closed, and general arrangements made for any contingency that might arise—the loyal population being extremely exasperated. Shortly after the Land League meeting opened (it was held in a field outside the town), it was reported to me that a special train, conveying several hundreds of Orangemen, as well as large contingents from the neighbourhood, had arrived, and that many of the loyalists were armed with revolvers. In a few moments another messenger arrived saying that the Orangemen, headed by different gentlemen of the county, were marching up through the town in large numbers to attack the Land League meeting. Detaching 300 men from the main body of constabulary protecting the League meeting, we drew six double ranks across the road, each twenty yards apart, in order to stay the progress of the assailants. The formation was hardly completed when the Orange party was seen approaching us,

THREATENED COLLISION.

9

completely filling the street. It was headed by brass bands and a couple of standardbearers carrying union - jacks. On the left front was Mr John Rea, a celebrated Belfast solicitor, and one of the most extraordinary of men. On the right was Mr Finigan, the secretary of the Constitutional Society; and in the centre was Colonel Waring, D.L., who was a justice of the peace for the county. On they all marched until they reached to within a yard of the foremost rank of the constabulary, when of necessity a halt was made. I got to the front, and, on asking, was informed that Colonel Waring was "in command." It was explained to him that no further advance could be allowed, and being a justice of the peace himself, I invited him to assist me in preserving order upon the occasion. Colonel Waring, no doubt somewhat taken aback, behaved as every loyal gentleman would have been expected to act on the occasion. He turned round and addressed the Orangemen, telling them that it