" Opert at r " July 21, 1849
RELIEVED fram the pangs of mortal hunger and despair, the Irish recommence the national sport of shooting each other. Much indignation is wasted on the conduct of the military at Dolly's Brae, and of Ministers in Parliament, for not preventing the meeting either by force or by re-enactment of the Party Processions Act: but the true culprits are the Irish themselves. You cannot keep them from killing each other ; why, then, should you try? They like it: " volenti non fit injuria." No more typical or gratuitous outrage than that which has just happened could be imagined. Lord Roden, an aged man, is assumed to favour the mummery of Orange processions on July 12th, and a party went in procession to his house. They resolved, with stupid bravado, to go through a Riband pass ; the Ribandmen resolved, with bravado not less stupid, to prevent them. Military stand to watch and keep the peace. Mutual promises are extorted from the two hosts, not to begin aggress'on: but stupid ferocity cannot keep faith ; Some fool firm, a squib, and there is a regular fight of guns. To keep peace in Ireland, every Irishman should he attended by a constable to restrain him from burning or shooting his neighbour. The like death: if it is not cholera it shah be choler. No armies can preserve peace among such a people Something might be done, indeed, by abolishing every possible exemplar of faction and sectarian bitterness ; more may be done oy the steady progress of education already at work, in which well-informed people have great faith.
* Colour Prejudice (Allen and Unwin).
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