since grave matters divide us—­not directly concerned in our national struggle for freedom—­let the dangerous idea be banished, that in entering on common ground we decry all opposing beliefs.  For men who hold beliefs as vital it would not be creditable to either side to put them easily by.  No, we do not ask them to forget themselves, but to respect one another—­an entirely greater and more honourable principle.  On neutral ground a man is not called on to abjure his flag; rather he and his flag are in sanctuary.

VIII

When we find the national idea touches life at every point, we begin to realise how frequent the call is to defend it without warning.  It is not that men directly raise the idea purposely to reject it, but that their habit of life, to which they expect all to conform, is unconsciously assuming that our ruling principle can have no place now or in the future.  Their assumption that the status quo cannot be changed will be the cause of most collision at first; and we must be quietly ready with the counter-assumption, stand for the old idea and justify it.  We must realise, too, that the number of people who have definite, strong, well-developed views against ours are comparatively small.  This small number embraces the English Government that commands forces, obeying it without reason, and influencing the general mass of people whose general attitude is indecision—­adrift with the ruling force.  It is this general mass of men we must permeate with the true idea, and give them more decision, more courage, more pride of race, and bring them to prove worthy of the race.  They will begin to have confidence in the Cause when they begin to see it vindicated amongst them day by day; and that vindication must be our duty.  That duty will not be to seek; it will offer itself and we shall have our test.  How?  Consider when men come together for any purpose where different views prevail and general things of no great moment form the subject of debate—­suddenly, unconsciously or tentatively, one will raise some idea that may divide the company—­say, acknowledging the English Crown in Ireland, putting by the claim for freedom, in the foolish hope of some material gain.  There is much nonsense talked and confusion abroad on this head, and it is quite possible a man, believing in Ireland’s full claim, will find himself in a large company who ought to stand for Ireland, yet who have lost a clear conception of her rights.  But he will find that they have no clear conception the other way, either; they are confused and generally pliable; and so, when the challenging idea is introduced, if he is quick and clear with the vital points, he can tear the surface off the many nostrums of the hour and prove them mean, worthless, and degrading; and, doing so, he will be forming the minds about him.  He must be ready; that is the great need.  Understand how a conversation is often turned by a chance word, and how governed by