Page 10 - Issue 22

1918, but only one, Constance Markievicz, the Sinn
Féin candidate for Dublin St. Patrick’s, Constance
Markievicz, was elected; however she followed her
party’s abstentionist policy and did not take her seat
at Westminster. But here is what she had to say as
the first woman elected to the British Parliament:

I take it as a great compliment that so many of you, the rising
young women of Ireland, who are distinguishing yourselves
every day and coming more and more to the front, should
give me this opportunity. We older people look to you with
great hopes and a great confidence that in your gradual
emancipation you are bringing fresh ideas, fresh energies and
above all a great genius for sacrifice into the life of the
nation….
Lately things seem to be changing… so now again a strong
tide of liberty seems to be coming towards us, swelling and
growing and carrying before it all the outposts that hold
women enslaved and bearing them triumphantly into the life
of the nation to which they belong…..

Women, from having till very recently stood so far removed
from all politics, should be able to formulate a much clearer
and more incisive view of the political situation than men.
For a man from the time he is a mere lad is more or less in
touch with politics, and has usually the label of some party
attached to him, long before he properly understands what it
really means…

Now, here is a chance for our women… Fix your mind on the
ideal of Ireland free, with her women enjoying the full rights
of citizenship in their own nation, and no one will be able to
sidetrack you, and so make use of you to use up the energies
of the nation in obtaining all sorts of concessions –
concessions too, that for the most part were coming in the