Above : Another Picture Of Prime Minister Peel

O’Connell now (1842-1843) tried another method, and organised in various parts of Ireland huge assemblies, known as ” monster meetings,” to which the people came in thousands ; at one held at Tara at least a quarter of a million persons were present. A platform was erected from which O’Connell spoke, but, wonderful as was the power of his voice, its tones could reach the ears of only a relatively small part of the vast multitude, All, however, stood quietly in their ordered ranks ; never was there the least impatience, the slighest interruption or sign of disorder. O’Connell had impressed on them the necessity of avoiding any disturbance, and no one dream of disobeying him.

Meanwhile, the Repeal Association had been infused with new life, and at “Conciliation Hall”, a building newly erected in Dublin, frequent meetings were held. Arbitration Courts were set up, to which persons were invited to bring their disputes for adjustment, instead of having recourse to the ordinary processes of law.

The Government, thoroughly alarmed, used severe measures. It was declared that, if other means failed, the Repeal Movement would be suppressed by force. O’Connell answered with words of defiance. For some time he had begun to depart, in language at least, from the peaceful and law-abiding attitude which he had hitherto assumed. ” I belong to a nation of 8,000,000,” he said. ” If Sir Robert Peel has the audacity to cause a contest to take place between the two countries, we will begin no rebellion, but—if he invades the constitutional rights of the Irish people—then vae victis between the contending parties.” This language, if it meant anything, meant that O’Connell was willing to approve of the use of physical force as a last resort, if the aim for which he strove could not be reached by other means. Yet all this while he was boasting, publicly and privately, of the completely peaceful character of the agitation, and constantly warning his adherents to abstain from violence or disorder. The people obeyed him, but the belief was Among them that the time would come when ” the Counsellor ” drive the word to take up arms.

A situation had come about which could not long continued. The Government was by no means certain that O’Connell, Union much longer desire to restrain the people, and still less convinced even should he be willing to do so, he would succeed. What real intentions of O’Connell were it is not easy to say. It seems probable that he believed that the Ministers would fear to incur the task of opposing a demand so general, so emphatic and so plainly supported threats far from difficult to translate into actions. In this he was mistaken. Whatever the risk was, Peel resolved to face it. Large numbers of troops were drafted into the country, and in October (1843) the blow was struck.