The Irish cause and "the Irish Convention"

The Irish cause and "the Irish Convention" by William O'Brien is a political pamphlet—an authorized parliamentary speech with appended correspondence—written in the early 20th century. The book examines Ireland’s Home Rule crisis, rejecting partition and assessing the proposed Irish Convention as a potential route to a constitutional settlement. The speech denounces the government’s partition plan as an affront to Irish nationhood and dismisses the proposed Council of Ireland as a cosmetic device. It criticizes British and Irish parliamentary failures that emboldened Ulster resistance and alienated Irish youth, then pivots to an alternative: let Irishmen frame a constitution through a small, non-partisan round-table conference, submit the result to a nationwide referendum, and secure broad consent without coercion or partition. The appended letters show the Prime Minister inviting participation in the Convention and the author’s refusal, with detailed objections: a convention too unwieldy and politicized; outdated local bodies and party machines dominating; key communities (notably Ulster Nationalists, labor, and universities) underrepresented; and the Ulster Unionist Council positioned to force six-county exclusion. He warns that failure will discredit constitutionalism, inflame extremism, and drive Ireland to seek redress before an international peace forum.

The Irish cause and "the Irish Convention", by William O'Brien. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #78446.