outbreak of anarchy was imminent. But Gladstone, when coming into
power in March 1880, assumed that air of easy optimism which his
successors in more recent times have imitated; and publicly stated
that there was in Ireland an absence of crime and outrage and a
general sense of comfort and satisfaction such as had been unknown
in the previous history of the country. His Chief Secretary, Forster,
however, had not been long in Ireland before he realized that this
was the dream of a madman; and that the Government must either act or
abdicate in favour of anarchy; but the Cabinet refused to support him.
Before the end of the year the Government had practically abdicated,
and the rule of the Land League was the only form of Government in
force in a large part of the country. The name of the unfortunate
Captain Boycott will be for ever associated with the means the League
employed to enforce their orders. What those means were, was explained
by Gladstone himself:--

"What is meant by boycotting? In the first place it is
combined intimidation. In the second place, it is combined
intimidation made use of for the purpose of destroying the
private liberties of choice by fear of ruin and starvation. In
the third place, that which stands in the rear of boycotting
and by which alone boycotting can in the long run be made
thoroughly effective is the murder which is not to be
denounced."

And a few years later--1886--the Official Report of the Cowper
Commission stated it more fully:--

"The people are more afraid of boycotting, which depends for
its success on the probability of outrage, than they are of