In our time there were the Land Leagues, the Land War, fights for Home Rule, Universities, Irish; and these fights ended in Land Acts, Local Government Acts, University Acts, and the conceding of pride of place to the native language in university life.

Every position gained is a step forward; it is accepted as such, and so is justified.

For anyone who grasps the serious purpose of recovering Ireland's independence all along the line, the suggestion that we should abandon all machinery of local government and enterprise--because they are "Government positions"-- to men definitely attached to the alien garrison is so foolish as not to be even entertained.

When our attitude is questioned let it be made clear.

That is the final answer to the man who challenges our consistency: we are carrying the trenches of the enemy.
IV Even while dismissing a false idea of consistency we have to make clear another view still remote from the general mind.