Fenian Notes

There is not much purity left in politics as we end the millennium, but there was none at its beginning. The majority is not pure, it is practical and pragmatic, seeking the justification of power.

Throughout the 20th century there have been rebellions, some bloodless but most filled with violence.

The aim in each case of dissent is triumph of the good with right principles into play to remake the fabric of the State.

The participating parties in the Royal British Regional Assembly at Stormont have in the case of the Provos and Loyalist paramilitaries moved from resistance to rule. Former so-called rebels now are emerging as full participants in British politics under the rules of Her Majesty's writ.

When groups are dissenters, their lack of power gave them the curious privilege of moral clarity. Their mission was to proffer principles the government ignored and to persuade enough of their high-minded fellow citizens to embrace these principles, Republican principles, that that focus presented a future hope.

Now, the former [Provo] dissidents must negotiate the compromises and ambiguous notions of ordinary politics under British rules not Irish rules. With the lofty goal of removing all vestiges of colonial rule shunted aside, there is a firm and well-defined sense that politics makes nothing happen.

Within the founding idea of the Irish Republican Movement is that truth and integrity were the greatest political weapons. One's followers needed the truth from their leadership. An element lacking in the administration of the British and Free Staters.

With the British in the Six Counties and the colonially-ordained Free State in the 26, public political life was drained of any high purpose such as national unity and freedom. The substitute was greed, attaining personal wealth and power.

The State-controlled media provides the language of propaganda, denouncing “dissidents” and misrepresenting everything unconforming groups say and do. The Provos will now embrace the lie to vent upon those who maintain the traditional pure motives of Irish Republicanism.

Credible “dissent” has as its centrepiece personal integrity and public truth as a singular gesture. “Dissidents” chief weapon is the truthful sentence.

The Provos dismiss principle by claiming that Stormont II is a stepping-stone, Republican Sinn Féin claims true peace and justice comes with a British withdrawal. Provo deceit must continually be exposed.

QUEEN'S WRIT

It should be self-evident with their sitting under the Queen's writ in the Queen's regional assembly. They are hardly going to do all out for unity and freedom while taking the Queen's shilling — 45,000 plus, pounds sterling.

The Provo leaders now graduated from ordinary reality into public life where they betray their convictions in the name of compromise. Where once they may have given civic testimony of principled defiance, they now wallow in excuses and justification of deceit. They have broken the rules of the game and that has a consequence.

Where once the Provos dissented against the political immorality of London and Dublin with integrity, they now collaborate with these governments eroding the last vestige of their honourable pursuits.

“Dissent” is a virtue manifest to a watching world, a code of behaviour, that is an honourable person's only way of averting compromise in a system that compromised all it touched.

Political “dissent” espoused and practised by true Republicans is akin to engaging in argument with the Grand Inquisitor as forcefully acted by London and Dublin.

Victory is not measured by winning power at the price of your soul, but by remaining faithful to yourself and the Republican Movement.

The true Republican remains committed to truth-telling within a moral consensus uncompromised by the driving ambition of the likes of Gerry Adams and his followers.

Republican Sinn Féin remains in opposition to the immoral regimes dividing Ireland and their dissent in that regard is a high-minded form of moral politics based on unity and freedom.

Holding out for no compromise, no stepping-stones, no sell-out, Republican Sinn Féin has developed clarity in simple honourable political pursuits of Republicanism.

In Ireland today the politics of dissent are superior to the so-called democratic politics which are measured in compromise, ambiguity and a process of lies.

Dublin, London, the SDLP and the Provos are a disappointment to “democratic” politics that is to them only a name without the democratic programme which encourages opposition and does not use police State terror to suppress dissent.

The Establishment idea of “democratic” politics is muddled in demagoguery, self-interest and game-playing against the common good.

The Free State is administered with such language that has lies and bribery and blackmail at its very core. The prime attribute of the system is living a political lie.

The fundamental essence of Partition in Ireland is the oppression caused by British occupation and the Free State's continued support of British policy. The Free State along with the SDLP and the Provos are the guardians of Partition.

Another factor in the Provo surrender is they are giving London, Washington and to a degree, Dublin, full control of the economy in exchange for a mere share of political power and the perks and money that go with it.

The Dublin government has long been seeking an excuse to crack down on “dissidents” and freedom of expression and speech. A weak government, a quasi-legitimate government needs draconian legislation to suppress “dissenters” who may claim a legitimacy the Dublin government had from its inception imposed by force and the element of violence.

The Irish Free State was a British creation imposed by violence, terror and atrocity. It has been sustained by anti-democratic law and by a political police force (Special Branch) and by internment.

Republicanism is the legitimacy and cornerstone of modern Ireland but a true Republic has never been implemented only pretended to be by various administrations whose only interest is preservation of the 26-County British creation.

Now the British peace process success means further reinforcement of the Dublin regime and attempts to solidify a regional British government in the North of Ireland at Stormont.

As we know Dublin and London have created a myth that the Treaty is a way forward, but if this was obvious, no one would oppose it. It is not the way to unity and freedom or a Republic.

Draconian legislation corrupts government, the judicial process and the police. It creates an atmosphere of gangsterism where thugs and bullies are given authority and freedom is disrupted and democratic pursuits discarded.

Dublin, London and Washington are prepared to do anything to guarantee the “peace” process and they have chosen the path of State terrorism, a very dangerous route. They have stated they will crush the enemies of the Belfast Agreement, that is, all dissent.

UNDEMOCRATIC

Now, all three governments are committed to tactics only used by undemocratic nations. They are preparing to become all they accuse “terrorists” of being, and using the power of government to implement what the populace will soon realise is the ultimate threat to freedom and the people are being led by the nose and follow willingly.

Many of us who are anti-Free State claiming it is illegitimate supported by police state methods and the many of us who claim the British hold on the North is illegitimate supported by State terrorism are vindicated by State terrorist legislation.

The Free State admits the legislation is the toughest in the history of the State which was established and created by the British by threat of terrible way and incumbent slaughter. The British were prepared to commit many terrible “Omaghs”, without a tinge of conscience.

Now the British propose a new Prevention of Terrorism worse than before. Is this process another benefit of the Partition peace process. It is just another bold lie.

The 2000 election in the United States is approaching, but what effect will it harness for Irish Republicans on both sides of the Atlantic? More than likely it will be status quo or less in the context of Irish freedom, and we will notice little change at first.

Bill Clinton's successor will be hesitant to do anything to detract from support for the present Stormont set-up. After all, it gives the British control ultimately which satisfies both major US parties and their leading candidates.

DARK HORSE CANDIDATE

Unless there emerges a significant dark horse candidate, the field suggests George Bush and John McCain vying for the Republican nomination and Al Gore and Bill Bradley contending for the Democrats. The next US President will be chosen from this roster of candidates.

None of the Presidential candidates are going to entertain the cause of Irish unity and freedom. We Irish Republicans can only hope for some Congressmen to evolve and emulate the example of former Congressman Mario Biaggi.

Why was Biaggi so great? For one he listened to his long-time friend, Mike Flannery, who told him never trust the British and from 1986 and even on his deathbed rejected the Provos. Biaggi was despised by the Free State and Maggie Thatcher, two grounds for sainthood.

We all know the story of Maggie Thatcher permitting Sir Ronald Reagan to use Britain as a base to bomb Libyan civilians. Her repayment was Reagan setting up Biaggi destroying his Congressional career.

Mario Biaggi has stayed true to his convictions and has his honour intact. Thatcher and Reagan will have to answer for the death of many innocent people when they are ultimately judged.

We cannot gain from supporting any Presidential candidate and should boycott the election unless a candidate will call for a British withdrawal and open visa policy. Short of a commitment to these two issues, we should ignore any candidate at any level.

We need to follow the example of dedication to principle of Republican Sinn Féin and not accept anything less than what we state are our principles. A British withdrawal and visas for all -- let that be our only judgement standard for any 2000 candidates.
— Peadar Mac Fhínín