Principles of Freedom

Principles of Freedom

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MacSwiney
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Title: Principles of Freedom
Author: Terence J. MacSwiney
Release Date: August 7, 2004 [eBook #13132]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPLES
OF FREEDOM***
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PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM
by
TERENCE MACSWINEY Late Lord Mayor of Cork
1921

[Illustration: TERENCE MACSWINEY (Late Lord Mayor of Cork)]
[Illustration]

TO
THE SOLDIERS OF FREEDOM

IN EVERY LAND

PREFACE
It was my intention to publish these articles in book form as soon as
possible. I had them typed for the purpose. I had no time for revision
save to insert in the typed copy words or lines omitted from the original
printed matter. I also made an occasional verbal alteration in the
original. One article, however, that on "Intellectual Freedom," though
written in the series in the place in which it now stands, was not printed
with them. It is now published for the first time.
RELIGION
I wish to make a note on the article under this heading to avoid a
possible misconception amongst people outside Ireland. In Ireland
there is no religious dissension, but there is religious sincerity. English
politicians, to serve the end of dividing Ireland, have worked on the
religious feelings of the North, suggesting the danger of Catholic
ascendancy. There is not now, and there never was, any such danger,
but our enemies, by raising the cry, sowed discord in the North, with
the aim of destroying Irish unity. It should be borne in mind that when
the Republican Standard was first raised in the field in Ireland, in the
Rising of 1798, Catholics and Protestants in the North were united in
the cause. Belfast was the first home of Republicanism in Ireland. This
is the truth of the matter. The present-day cleavage is an unnatural thing
created by Ireland's enemies to hold her in subjection and will
disappear entirely with political Freedom.
It has had, however, in our day, one unhappy effect, only for a time
fortunately, and this is disappearing. I refer to the rise of Hibernianism.
The English ruling faction having, for their own political designs,
corrupted the Orangemen with power and flattery, enabled them to
establish an ascendancy not only over Ulster, but indirectly by their
vote over the South. This becoming intolerable, some sincere but
misguided Catholics in the North joined the organisation known as
THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS. This was, in effect, a sort
of Catholic Freemasonry to counter the Orange Freemasonry, but like
Orangeism, it was a political and not a religious weapon.
Further, as a political weapon, it extended all through Ireland during
the last years of the Irish Parliamentary Movement. In Cork, for

example, it completely controlled the city life for some years, but the
rapid rise of the Republican Movement brought about the equally rapid
fall of Hibernianism. At the present moment it has as little influence in
the public life of Cork as Sir Edward Carson himself. The great bulk of
its one-time members have joined the Republican Movement. This
demonstrates clearly that anything in the nature of a sectarian
movement is essentially repugnant to the Irish people. As I have
pointed out, the Hibernian Order, when created, became at once a
political weapon, but Ireland has discarded that, and other such
weapons, for those with which she is carving out the destinies of the
Republic. For a time, however, Hibernianism created an unnatural
atmosphere of sectarian rivalry in Ireland. That has now happily passed
away. At the time, however, of the writing of the article on Religion it
was at its height, and this fact coloured the writing of the article. On
re-reading it and considering the publication of the present work I was
inclined to suppress it, but decided that it ought to be included because
it bears directly on the evil of materialism in religious bodies, which is
a matter of grave concern to every religious community in the world.
T. MacS.

CONTENTS


CHAPTER
I. THE BASIS OF FREEDOM
II. SEPARATION
III. MORAL FORCE
IV. BROTHERS AND ENEMIES
V. THE SECRET OF STRENGTH
VI. PRINCIPLE IN ACTION

VII. LOYALTY
VIII. WOMANHOOD
IX. THE FRONTIER
X. LITERATURE AND FREEDOM--THE PROPAGANDIST
PLAYWRIGHT
XI. LITERATURE AND FREEDOM--ART FOR ART'S SAKE
XII. RELIGION
XIII. INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
XIV. MILITARISM
XV. THE EMPIRE
XVI. RESISTANCE IN ARMS--FOREWORD
XVII. RESISTANCE IN ARMS--THE TRUE MEANING OF LAW
XVIII. RESISTANCE IN ARMS--OBJECTIONS