the polling-booth. In England the
Court is cleared, and even the policeman has to go outside. But in
this favoured country any blackguard who likes to fill up a
declaration of secrecy, and go before a magistrate, can be present at
the whole of the proceedings. There is no secrecy for the illiterates.
Any corner-boy, any ruffian, any blackguard in the district can come
in and hear for whom men vote. These corner boys all get declarations
in their fists, and they march in gangs from one booth to another.
It's intimidation, no less. Get some M.P. to mention this as having
taken place at Stranorlar. The people of whom I complain were not even
voters. Anybody could be present. Ridiculous to talk of the ballot-box
in Ireland.

"The Morley magistrates are in many cases a disgrace to the country.
We used to have an idea in these parts that a small publican could not
legally sit on the Bench. James McGlinchy, J.P., is a small publican
of Brockagh. Barring his trade, he's not so bad, as he can read and
write. But if you saw the lists, and if you knew the men
recommended----! Englishmen have no idea what low scoundrels have been
placed on the Bench in this country. Imperfect education we do not so
much mind when conjoined with character. O'Donnell is not a bad sort,
but he couldn't write 'adjourned.' Two magistrates were needed, and
nobody else arrived. Therefore the difficult word was necessary, and
O'Donnell felt it was beyond him. He called up a policeman, and
ordered him to do it. Whereat the county makes merry. There should be
an education test. Can all the English magistrates spell 'adjourned'?
You think so? That's very good. Not right that a man who can't spell
'adjourned' should give another man a spell of imprisonment."

A Roman Catholic gentleman thus summed up the character of his
particular neighbourhood:--"The upper classes of both sects are in
every way equal. Among the lower classes I observe that the
Protestants do as much work as they can, while the Papists do as
little as they can. This accounts for the difference in their
appearance and position. Then the Protestants are far better educated,
and have arrived at the knowledge that everything that is good must be
gained by exertion, and that there is for them at least no substitute.
The others talk as if after the establishment of an Irish Parliament
money would be found growing on the bushes. No one need try to change
their opinion. When the time comes to vote