Unity and Patience

The Tuam Herald, Saturday, August 21, 1920.

There never was a time in our troubled history when there was greater need on the part of the Irish people of unity and patience than now. There never was an occasion when more good can be effected by the exercise of such qualities and more harm and misfortune averted. There exists on the part of what passes for government a strange infatuation of indifference to the serious crisis that is impeding in this country largely brought about by their bungling. The grandest opportunity of his life, or that of any statesman, occurred this week to Mr. Lloyd George, if he had only the courage to avail himself of it. The rumor that some thing important and decisive would be said in Parliament on Monday sent a throb of expectancy and hope through the country only to be rudely shattered and dispelled when he failed and lost his chance. He indulged in the usual empty, platitudes that deceive no body but held out encouragement or hope. Had he even announced that when Parliament meets in October next a measure on the lines of dominion Home rule, with his three reservations, would be introduced and passed there would, we believe, be a welcome and needed change in the present state of things, a change that would bring rest and quiet and that would ease the way to a speedy and satisfactory settlement later on. But instead of so wisely acting he stuck to the old Carsonite line and instead of hope we have disappointment and depsir to put up with. A longer lease of immunity is unfortunately by such tactless tactics given the powers of disorder amongst us. Almost synchrosing with this effect declaration of either Government indifference or incompetency came from Templemore with the sad news of the shooting of a police officer and the subsequent wrecking of the town, as occurred in Tuam, by way of reprisals. This is the awful prospect before us during the next two months or more perhaps, searching into as dismal a winter as Ireland ever had to endure. And it might have been averted if Mr. Lloyd George only did what we said.

But bad as things are, there is not without some gleam of hope in the dark and darkening prospect. Never was Ireland so united on a common purpose of nationhood as it is at this moment. Driven into this happily changed attitude of national unanimity the former Unionists all over the country excepting only the diminishing intransigent intolerable irreconcilables of the North east corner, are joining up, so that there is not a genuine Unionist left in Ireland today. The putrid policy of procrastination of the Government, their servile submissions to the malice and malicious influence of Carsonism has helped to convert our country men to one common nationality. As things are, there are only two political parties of any weight and importance in Ireland at this moment, the broad and broadening party of Nationalists now embracing all classes of respected and respectable Unionists, and the Republican party declaring themselves out for complete independence. The good old Tory and Unionist of the South, those esteemed and estimable Irishmen amongst us, have disappeared and all are now Home Rulers, even of a wider form of Home rule than Isaac Butt and Charles Stewart Parnell, who were of their class, ever dreamed of looking for or ever expected to get.

That is the one only feature of hope in the present political situation, the one bright spot, the only iota of comfort to us all, May that blessed board of brotherhood never be sundered. May it grow and strengthen and flourish. Never did Ireland more need the brains and brawn of all her sons, irrespective of class or creed, for a real nation knows no such narrow distinctions and divisions, than she needs them now. But that united Ireland ,so happily come together, must be up and doing. They must act and act as one for time is sorely pressing and the sands are fast running down in the hour glass of our fate, and as the Southern Unionists said in the historic and important declarations every day's delay is only making the task of ultimate settlement more difficult. It would be, therefore, in view of the serious crisis in our fate and fortunes impending be a wise step if all Ireland were to meet and make one solemn national protest against the stupid and perilous inactivity of the Government and as impressive appeal for prompt action to save the country they all love so much. Not a moment is to be lost. Between this and October there should ring out that protest from the chief men in the chief cities of the country, beginning with an all Ireland meeting in Dublin. This combined movement would have great weight It would be a grand national protest, a solemn declaration of the voice of the Irish people declaring that the present state of things is intolerable and must end as soon as possible and that the sooner it ends the better. Let such a national convention be organized at once for this purpose and let it meet in Dublin next month, and subsequently in Cork, Limerick, Derry, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo and Galway, with one voice declaring United Ireland's resolve to demand and to get the fullest measure of Home rule compatible with the maintenance of Imperial integrity and union. Such spirited annuity action on the part of the recognized leaders of Irish opinion of all kinds would impress our rulers and all the world. It would strengthen the resolve of the British people to give Ireland her long denied rights, and it could stay the ??????? and believe, or murderous mischief and destruction disorder among a few determined and resolute men that is bringing such sorrow to all our souls and staining the fair fame of all our people with crimes they abhor and have no sympathy with.