The Life and Times of James Connolly

etween the Irish people and the outside world.
An editorial followed which professed full sympathy with Connolly’s views on labour
and social questions. So far Alice Milligan had moved. But she was “absolutely opposed”
to his proposal for “an Irish republican party at Westminster”. The principal objection
was the oath of allegiance. She stood with John Mitchel, who had refused to take his
seat. But she was willing to allow the matter to be debated.
A number of letters followed, and Connolly replied in October. He criticised
MacManus, who had objected that the majority of the Irish people were republicans who
would not wish for representation in the Westminster parliament. On the contrary,
genuine revolutionists were extremely rare. And to illustrate the results of leaving the
Home Rulers undisturbed he quoted from speeches. Redmond had told an audience at
Cambridge that “separation from England was undesirable and impossible”. Alfred
Webb had said the Indians “knew their duty to their sovereign and were loyal”. The
Freeman’s Journal as recently as August 18 had declared that “Irish people are willing
to accept the Monarchy provided that national self-government is conceded”. Quoting
from Parnellite and anti-Parnellite alike, he established that a vote for either faction was
a vote for the British connection. An alternative policy must be urged in both Britain
and Ireland.
They were unconvinced. Alice Milligan rejected the notion that “Irish republicans
should become politicians”. “In advocating the formation of a democratic party in
Parliament they are taking the broad road that leads to destruction, “ said the Shan Van
Vocht, and added the terrible warning that “such a party would inevitably be in alliance
with the English Labour Party”.
Connolly had not clearly distinguished between democratic and socialist programmes
and failed to carry the Republicans with him. Yet refusing to challenge the Home Rule
factions in their chosen sphere of Parliament was to acquiesce in their political
predominance, and the Republicans learned something of this to their cost later.
In the meantime Connolly had left Charlemont Street and found another one-room
tenement at 54 Pimlico; on the same landing was William Farrell, of the United
Labourers. The landlady was a Protestant who stood somewhat aloof from her tenants
except on certain ceremonial occasions. Every time a child was born she presented the
parents with a chicken and a pint of whisky. She paid no particular attention to the
agitator on her premises. He and his family were quiet, and though the neighbours were
at times mystified by his comings and goings, they liked him and asked no questions till
his fame as a speaker caught up with him. Just before leaving for a short visit to
Edinburgh in October 1897, he was stopped on the way home and agreed to speak to
the tenants of some buildings in the Coombe area. They had received notice to quit on
refusing to pay a rent increase demanded under the pretext of some trifling
60 | The Life and Times of James Connolly