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1913 > Sligo Poetry 1913 > Sligo Independent

In this year the anonymous anti-Home Rule poet correspondent, A.D., continued his/her series of short sharp comments on the political situation with special concentration on criticism of the Nationalist and Liberal parties. As noted in the 1912 section, the identity of A.D. is unknown. His poems were published in the Sligo Independent June to August 1912 only and between August and December 1913.

Of those that have a location, all except one have London, W. The one exception, the first of 1913 in mid-August, has Boyle, County Roscommon which might suggest some Sligo connection.

The 20 September poem is unusual in that it has a prose preface, is in the form of a letter and is printed under Letters to the Editor.

The targets in 1913 are similar to those of 1912 - Liberal politicians, Asquith, Lloyd George and Reginald McKenna and Redmond and his Irish Parliamentary Party.

Sligo Independent 16 August 1913
LLOYD GEORGE (AD NAUSEAM)

Not a paper you take up,
When you breakfast, dine or sup,
But the name Lloyd George appears,
Sickening this has been for years.
Though in stature rather small,
Statements that he makes are "tall."
Though his uniform looks grand,
You detect his Limehouse brand,
Vulgar, ?olay, bumptious shout,
Country now has found him out.
Ramming lies down people’s throats,
Anything to "catch the votes"
Of Lloyd George the country’s sick,
Up like rocket, down like stick.

                                       —A. D.
                                           Boyle,
                                           August 10 th.

The origin of the last line is Thomas Paine's gibe about Edmund Burke's oratory in a House of Commons debate on the subject of the French Revolution: As he rose like a rocket, he fell like the stick.

Sligo Independent 27 September 1913
   Government’s Broken Pledges

The man in the street may well sneer
At the promises broken each year,
             While each Radical blockhead
             His conscience will pocket,
As well as four hundred a year.

Yes, it seems nothing short of a sin,
That the voters which voted such "in"
             Will quite calmly submit   
             To be cruelly hit
By those they had helped seats to win.

   London W.                        —A. D.

Sligo Independent 30 August 1913
   The "Home" Secretary

Some say Reginald McKenna
Needs a dose of salts and senna,
Failure at each post he gets,
Abjext fear of suffragettes.
When one starves herself in goal,
Out she gets; no need for bail.
Law becomes a farce today,
Carried out by "R. McKay".

 London, W.           —A. D.

Sligo Independent 20 September 1913

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

REDMOND’S LAST APPEAL FOR FUNDS.

Sir,—An object lesson to prove that Home Rule is not desired by the great bulk of the Irish people is shown by the fact that, though the Savings Bank in that country possesses more funds than ever before, the response to Mr Redmond’s last appeal was so meagre that it is calculated that one farthing per head would more than represent the amount gained.

When Redmond last sent round the hat
A poor response he got from Pat,
For Paddy said—"I’m not the fool
To give my money to Home Rule.
I’ll keep my cash within the bank
and then I’ll have myself to thank.
The Wyndham Act did more for me
Than any Nationalist M.P.
Let others Land League funds sustain
But not a rap I’ll pay again."

                                      —A.D.
London, W.


Sligo Independent 6 December 1913

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
(From Bristol Times and Mirror)

Who fears to face election?
    Why Asquith and his crew,
Who find on close reflection
    They don’t know what to do.
The bargain made they cannot keep;
What they have sown they’re bound to reap.
In spite of all they do and say,
Loyalist Ulster shan’t give way.

London, W.                    —A. D.                        

 
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