e impression that bread
was high, because of the corn-laws, and that they existed to enrich the
landholders, an expressed opinion in favour of their abolition was sure
to gain cheers at a popular election. But the most prominent question
on the hustings, even in England, was Catholic emancipation. The Duke
of York's speech, and the violence exhibited in Ireland, had created
a strong feeling against the Catholics; and as it was known that their
claims would be one of the earliest subjects of discussion in the new
parliament, the success of a candidate generally depended as to whether
he was, or was not in favour of Catholic emancipation. It was in
Ireland, however, that the giving or refusing of a vote mostly depended
on the answer received to the question, Will you vote for emancipation?
The demagogues of the Catholic Association gave themselves up to the
carrying of this one point; and they were aided by that powerful band
of agitators, the Irish priests. The contest on the Irish hustings was,
indeed, converted into an award of eternal damnation: the consolations
of the church here, and the joys of heaven hereafter, were promised
those who voted for an emancipation candidate; but the darkness of
excommunication in this life, and the gloom of purgatory first, and
then the pains of hell, were denounced against those who voted for
an anti-Catholic. The associated barrister and the political priest
travelled the country together in order to propagate the common creed;
the one by threats of damnation, and the other by the more temporal
considerations of civil and religious power; and this tyrannical sway
of the artful and designing was irresistible among the forty-shilling
freeholders--it procured the large majority pledged to support the
claims of Catholic emancipation. The great influence which the priests
had over the ignorant multitude was seen in a remarkable manner by the
issue of the election for the county of Waterford. Mr. O'Connell and the
Rev. Mr. Sheehan traversed that county to rouse it against the family
of Beresford; and every tie of respect and civil influence which had
hitherto united the Catholic tenant to his Protestant landlord gave
way before the power of the church, The electors were wielded by the
priesthood; and Lord George Beresford was compelled by his own tenantry
to give tip the contest. At a meeting held in Clonmel to celebrate this
triumph, Mr. Sheehan, the priest, remarked, "We said to the peopl