Volume I Part 47 (1/2)
”But what need of military?” indignantly exclaimed Edward. ”The people are only going on with the noise and disturbance common to any election, and the chances are, that savage man may influence the sheriff to provoke the people, by the presence of soldiers, to some act which would not have taken place but for their interference; and thus they themselves originate the offence which they are forearmed with power to chastise. In England such extreme measures are never resorted to until necessity compels them. How I have envied Englishmen, when, on the occasion of a.s.sizes, every soldier is marched from the town while the judge is sitting; in Ireland the place of trial bristles with bayonets!
How much more must a people respect and love the laws, whose own purity and justice are their best safeguard--whose inherent majesty is sufficient for their own protection! The sword of justice should never need the a.s.sistance of the swords of dragoons; and in the election of their representatives, as well as at judicial sittings, a people should be free from military despotism.”
”But, as an historian, my dear young friend,” said the doctor, ”I need not remind you, that dragoons have been considered 'good lookers-on' in Ireland since the days of Strafford.”
”Ay!” said Edward; ”and scandalous it is, that the abuses of the seventeenth century should be perpetuated in the nineteenth.[24] While those who govern show, by the means they adopt for supporting their authority, that their rule requires undue force to uphold it, they tacitly teach resistance to the people, and their practices imply that the resistance is righteous.”
[24] When Strafford's infamous project of the wholesale robbery of Connaught was put in practice, not being quite certain of his juries, he writes that he will send three hundred horse to the province during the proceedings, as ”good lookers-on.”
”My dear Master Ned,” said the doctor, ”you're a patriot, and I'm sorry for you; you inherit the free opinions of your namesake 'of the hill,'
of blessed memory; with such sentiments you may make a very good Irish barrister, but you'll never be an Irish judge--and as for a silk gown, 'faith you may leave the wearing of _that_ to your wife, for stuff is all that will ever adorn your shoulders.”
”Well, I would rather have stuff there than in my head,” answered Edward.
”Very epigrammatic, indeed, Master Ned,” said the doctor. ”Let us make a distich of it,” added he, with a chuckle; ”for, of a verity, some of the K. C.'s of our times are but dunces. Let's see--how will it go?”
Edward dashed off this couplet in a moment--
”Of modern king's counsel this truth may be said, They have _silk_ on their shoulders, and _stuff_ in their head.”
”Neat enough,” said the doctor; ”but you might contrive more sting in it--something to the tune of the impossibility of making 'a silk purse out of a sow's ear,' but the facility of manufacturing silk gowns out of _bores'_ heads.”
”That's out of your bitter pill-box, Doctor,” said Ned, smiling.
”Put it into rhyme, Ned--and set it to music--and dedicate it to the bar mess, and see how you'll rise in your profession! Good bye--I will be back again to see the fun as soon as I can, but I must go now and visit an old woman who is in doubt whether she stands most in need of me or the priest. It's wonderful, how little people think of the other world till they are going to leave this; and, with all their praises of heaven, how very anxious they are to stay out of it as long as they can.”
With this bit of characteristic sarcasm, the doctor and Edward separated.
Edward had hardly left the hustings, when Murphy hurried on the platform and asked for him.
”He left a few minutes ago,” said Tom Durfy.
”Well, I dare say he's doing good wherever he is,” said Murtough; ”I wanted to speak to him, but when he comes back send him to me. In the meantime, Tom, run down and bring up a batch of voters--we're getting a little ahead, I think, with the bothering I'm giving them up there, and now I want to push them with good strong tallies--run down to the yard, like a good fellow, and march them up.”
Off posted Tom Durfy on his mission, and Murphy returned to the court-house.
Tom, on reaching Murphy's house, found a strange posse of O'Grady's party hanging round the place, and one of the fellows had backed a car against the yard gate which opened on the street, and was the outlet for Egan's voters. By way of excuse for this, the car was piled with cabbages for sale, and a couple of very unruly pigs were tethered to the shafts, and the strapping fellow who owned all kept guard over them. Tom immediately told him he should leave that place, and an altercation commenced; but even an electioneering dispute could not but savour of fun and repartee, between Paddies.
”Be off!” said Tom.
”Sure I can't be off till the market's over,” was the answer.
”Well, you must take your car out o' this.”
”Indeed now, you'll let me stay, Misther Durfy.”
”Indeed I won't.”
”Arrah! what harm?”