Blistering attack on Irish Parliamentary Party

‘They have simply defied the voice of the people'

Dublin, 20 February 1917 - The Irish Independent has launched a blistering attack on the Irish Party in a significant change in its editorial line.

The editorial says:

'One of the besetting sins of the Irish leaders and of the bulk of the Party is their lack of straight forwardness in dealing with the people and the unlimited faith they seem to have in their ability to deceive and humbug the whole country. In all the political issues that have arisen in recent years they have invariably proceeded on the assumption that the people or a great number of them can be cajoled and fooled by senseless and inane catch-cries.’

‘The blunders and mistakes of the leaders and Party have been repeatedly pointed out to them, and at the same time the necessity for reform in their own ranks has been urged upon them. Instead of amending their ways they have simply defied the voice of the people.'

The editorial is scathing of plans to hold a conference on the Irish situation and broadly argues that the Party has entirely lost touch, that its proceedings are ‘farcical’, and that it is devoid of adequate leadership.

Underlying all of these claims is a sense that the Irish Parliamentary Party is drowning in arrogance and has lost the confidence of the Irish people.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]