July 13 1974
Everyone is feeling a sense of relief and satisfaction that the “Twelfth” parades passed off peacefully.
Orange oratory was noticeably absent and the speeches must go unrecorded, except for the discovery of the Imperial Grand Master, Rev Martin Smyth, that communism, always twinned with Romanism as Orangeism’s arch-enemies, has infiltrated the ranks of loyalists and, presumably, the Orange Order; and the minatory remarks, notably by Mr John Taylor, about a Home Guard.
Hitherto, the Orange Order has shown itself to be more positively anti-Catholic by expelling members for mild association with Catholicism in the way of attendance at Catholic services or association with fellow Catholic citizens.
Mr Smyth did not enlarge on the communist influence, but we can take it that the growth of radical thinking among loyalist groups and the rejection of the old-style politicians has created the bogey. It is here that trouble lurks for both politicians and Orange leaders, when election time comes round again.
Understandably, there were few obvious political speeches yesterday and certainly no professions of faith in the Labour government at Westminster. It will come as some consolation to Mr [Harold] Wilson and Mr [Merlyn] Rees that none of the speeches actually derided the government for its failure to deal with the Northern problem but warned of its obligation to do what the Orange Order says it ought to do: mobilise and fully train, and arm, an Ulster Home Guard “to defend the province” (Who said “B” Specials?).
Theoretically, Mr John Taylor, who spoke with more determination than others on this subject, might put this idea forward as food and consolation for his “Twelfth” hearers; practically, he knows such an idea, even if entertained by the British government, is more destructive that constructive, and could only be at the risk of even greater turmoil.
If he cares to, Mr Rees will doubtless tell Mr Taylor and the Orange leaders that the RUC, the police reserve and the UDR are all under-strength.
In plain words, Mr Taylor’s Home Guard is not a practical fact – and he knows it.
Nothing was said in yesterday’s speeches of the need for establishing peace with justice, of creating political structures which will guarantee impartiality of government.
Such phrases would ring hollow on the lips of Orange orators who see government only on purely sectional lines.
