The Belfast-born essayist Robert Lynd wrote that before London millionaires and Conservatives and Ulster Unionists determined to use armed force to defy a British House of Commons majority offering Home Rule to Ireland, most Irish people were as addicted to parliamentary politics as to the teapot.
He was writing an appreciation of James Connolly whom he reckoned the most clear-minded democrat of his day following Conolly’s death at the hands of a British firing squad for his part in the 1916 Insurrection.
Connolly was a co-founder of the Irish Labour Party in 1912 which intended to contest elections in the promised Home Rule Parliament in the interests of Irish Workers. A Home Rule Parliament would have little more power than a County Council and ultimate control of Irish Affairs would be exercised by the Imperial Parliament at Westminster.
The TIMES of London described a huge Dublin meeting in favour of Home Rule held on a Sunday in a most condescending manner. The (mainly Catholic) Nationalists enjoyed a day in an unserious holiday mood unlike the stern Sabbatarians of Protestant Ulster with their drums and militarily drilled battalions and Old Testament rhetoric. The Nationalists were good-natured but it was implied not to be taken seriously.
Amongst those out in support of John Redmond’s Irish Party was a young journalist, teacher, and poet, trained as a barrister. He spoke in Irish. He was not quoted by THE TIMES. He said that if British politicians reneged on the promise of Home Rule he would advocate to have nothing more to do with them but to take up arms for complete Independence of Ireland. His name was Patrick Pearse and he too was shot by British Firing Squad for his part in the 1916 Insurrection.
I don’t know if Arthur Griffith was in the crowd. In 1905 he founded Sinn Fein. He was against sending Irish representatives to Westminster. He advocated contesting the Westminster Elections but for winners of Irish Seats to meet together in Dublin as a National Parliament. Sinn Fein had some local Government members, two of whom, Sean T O Ceallaigh and William Cosgrave, were Aldermen on Dublin Corporation. Both took part in the 1916 Rising.
But Sinn Fein as an organisation had no part in the planning of the Rising.
It could be said that in 1912 as far as Constitutional matters went ,Griffith was more radical than Connolly or Pearse.
TO BE CONTINUED
I am still away on holidays. I have paraphrased Robert Lynd, and THE TIMES, and Pearse, as I have not my sources immediately to hand.
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