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The Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is by far
the most important issue for any loyal Ulsterman or woman
- including the members of the Orange Order.
That must be borne in mind by everyone worthy of the name
loyalist as the most vital referendum in Northern Ireland's
history looms, and 1998 assumes an importance unprecedented
since partition in 1922.
Northern Ireland's prosperity depends on being part of the
United Kingdom, but above all, the freedom and security of
its British majority is utterly dependant on this Province
remaining an integral and undiluted part of the United Kingdom.
Nothing less than that will be acceptable to everyone who
treasures their British citizenship. They know that the freedom
of worship, of protecting and advancing the British, Protestant,
and Unionist culture depends on Northern Ireland remaining
part of the United Kingdom.
Ulster Protestants and those of the minority Roman Catholic
community who also prefer to remain British are in a formidable
majority - but it is a majority dependent on a solid vote
of favour of the Union and rejecting any moves or any proposal
which would put this Province on the road to a unitary Irish
State.
Edward Carson's warning - "United we stand, divided
we fall" remains the cornerstone of Ulster's loyalty
- a proud declaration and also containing a clear warning,
Unionism cannot afford the luxury of losing an election or
a vote which would steer the Province away from the mainstream
of British life and towards an all-Ireland political set-up,
via a 'half-way house' or a hybrid British-Irish citizenship.
Unionists - true Unionists - and that should include all
Orangemen and women want no part of an arrangement which,
however well disguised it might be, would amount to a semi-detached
British citizenship - a nightmare amounting to shared sovereignty
- an 'under two flags' scenario.
Unionists must ensure that the referendum vote this May has
an overwhelming majority in favour of undiminished British
citizenship and Northern Ireland's full membership of the
United Kingdom.
That can be achieved - provided all categories of Unionism
combine and vote with one accord and with one purpose in favour
of the 'full British' proposal. It will be up to Unionist
politicians of all parties and hues to get together, to sink
domestic differences, and to present a united and common front
in defence of Ulster and the United Kingdom.
Ulster Unionists and loyalists, including those who belong
to the Orange Order, are happy to live in peace and harmony
with their neighbours in the Republic. They are prepared to
exchange ideas for the common good of both countries and,
as every Unionist Government did in the past, co-operate in
matters of mutual interest.
But that was based on respect for one another's independence
and self-determination - a philosophy Northern Ireland has
always been prepared to adopt, but sadly, not the Irish Free
State or the Republic.
That is still the stance of Unionists and Orangemen, but
there is a lack of trust on the part of many Ulster Protestants
about what they perceive to be the true intentions of the
Dublin Government.
Unionists cannot contemplate or support a political arrangement
which would set up bodies with executive powers or functions
- a Council of Ireland rejected by Ulster people in 1974 and
still not acceptable to the majority here.
Unionists and Orangemen must keep their eyes on the ball
and not be diverted by side issues - the situation is far
too serious for this to happen.
History has proven that Ulster Protestantism, Unionism and
Orangeism has thrived within the United Kingdom, and there
is no desire on the part of the British population of this
Province to share the fate of their co-religionists in the
26 counties of the Republic.
When the border was set up there was a strong Protestant
population in the South - nearly 400,000 - and a thriving
Orange presence in Dublin, Kingstown, Bandon and other places.
Today the Protestant population in the South is below 100,000
and still falling and all this happening in a country where
the overall population has risen dramatically.
Persecution and expulsion in the early days when tens of
thousands of Protestants fled to Northern Ireland and other
parts of the Empire gave way to intimidation, and then gradual
assimilation through mixed marriages in which the Protestant
partner had to promise the children would be brought up as
Roman Catholics.
In spite of all the propaganda to the contrary, little has
changed since, and the recent furore and uproar over the new
Eire President Mary McAleese taking Communion in a Church
of Ireland cathedral shows that bigotry lies just under the
surface in the Republic.
Northern Ireland is increasingly a pluralist society with
increasing ethnic groups like the Chinese and Vietnamese.
It is not a 'Protestant State for a Protestant people' but
a State in which all faiths and religions have the right to
exist and to propagate their views.
The Republic is still a theocracy with an overwhelming Roman
Catholic ethos, and it is not in the best interests of Ulster
Protestantism that their British birthright and allegiance
should be switched to that of an Irish State in which Unionist,
Orange and British culture would, on the evidence of what
has happened in many parts of the Province, hardly be tolerated,
far less encouraged.
This year will be a crucial one in the history of Northern
Ireland and it is the duty of all Unionists and members of
the Orange Order to play their part, in a lawful, peaceful,
democratic and positive way in maintaining the link with Great
Britain - a link just as strong as that binding the other
three countries, England, Scotland and Wales to the United
Kingdom.
It is the duty of all Orangemen and women to not only vote
themselves for full membership of the United Kingdom, but
ensure that their families, friends and acquaintances do likewise
- the countdown to the Referendum in May is well under way.
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