1. There are moments in history when by the urgency of circumstance
everyone in a country is drawn from normal pursuits to consider
the affairs of the nation. The merchant is turned from his warehouse,
the bookman from his books, the farmer from his fields, because
they realize that the very foundations of the society, under whose
shelter they were able to carry on their avocation, are being shaken,
and they can no longer be voiceless, or leave it to deputies,
unadvised by them, to arrange national destinies. We are all
accustomed to endure the annoyances and irritations caused by
legislation which is not agreeable to us, and solace ourselves by
remembering that the things which really matter are not affected.
But when the destiny of a nation, the principles by which life is
to be guided are at stake, all are on a level, are equally affected
and are bound to give expression to their opinions. Ireland is in
one of these moments of history. Circumstances with which we are
all familiar and the fever in which the world exists have infected
it, and it is like molten metal the skilled political artificer
might pour into a desirable mould. But if it is not handled rightly,
if any factor is ignored, there may be an explosion which would bring
on us a fate as tragic as anything in our past history. Irishmen
can no longer afford to remain aloof from each other, or to address
each other distantly and defiantly from press or platform, but must
strive to understand each other truly, and to give due weight to
each other's opinions, and, if possible, arrive at a compromise, a
balancing of their diversities, which may save our country from
anarchy and chaos for generations to come.

2. An agreement about Irish Government must be an agreement, not
between two but three Irish parties first of all, and afterwards