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tice; but that it was so at its first institution, and even down to a 
comparatively late period, is denied. 'Tanistry had for its object 
the prevention of public commotion and disturbance, and the pre- 
servation of public peace. Whilst Ireland was ruled by her native 
monarchs, and governed by her own laws, the offices of Monarch, 
provincial Kings, and Taotseachs, or chiefs of tribes, were heredi- 
tary in particular families, but elective in the persons. This cus- 
tom, although it preserved the liberties of the people, and saved them 
from being governed by a man of imbecile mind, a woman, ora 
child, was the cause of frequent wars, and consequently of much 
blood-shed ; for, upon the death of a king or chief, different can- 
didates of the same family became competitors for the vacant office, 
and each endeavoured to carry his election by the number of his 
adherents and the force of arms. 'To remedy this evil, and yet to 
preserve the rights of the people and the established mode of suc- 
cession, by which the most worthy of the tribe should rule, the 
laws provided, that, during the life-time of the reigning monarch, 
king, or prince, a proper successor should be appointed. For this 
purpose, the persons having the power to elect assembled in a parti- 
cular place, appointed for the purpose, and there, after mature 
deliberation, selected for their Fear Tanaiste, (i. e. their second man) 
that person amongst the family of their reigning prince, who, from 
his superior understanding, prudence, and courage, was most likely 
to rule over them with justice and wisdom, in times of peace, or 
lead them to victory in war. The choice seldom fell on the son of 
the chief in being; but frequently his brother, or some other near 
relation, was appointed his successor, during whose subsequent 
government the son of the then chief might be elected Tanaist. But, 
notwithstanding all this precaution to prevent public commotion, 
upon the death of a king or prince a new candidate would often 
