John Hume's speech at the SDLP party conference, 1981

In 1981, Northern Ireland was facing a complicated issue between its communities, this period is known as the Troubles. The Troubles started in the 1960s, it was a long conflict which opposed two groups of people: The Nationalists who were mostly Catholics and wanted Ireland to be a nation without being part of the United Kingdom and the Unionists, mostly protestants whose aim was to remain within the UK. This era was marked by violence caused by paramilitary organisations like the IRA (Irish Republican Army) for the Republicans and the UVF and UDA for the Loyalists. Although the violence had dimished in 1981, tensions remained and political negotiations were needed to bring peace in Northern Ireland. John Hume was the SDLP leader since 1979. The SDLP, Social Democratic and Labour Party, was created in 1970 as a constitutional nationalist party, its purpose was to defend more rights for the Catholics and it wanted unification with the Republic of Ireland peacefully. On the 14th November 1981, John Hume did a speech at the SDLP party conference. It was intended for the Irish population but especially to the DUP members. The DUP is the Democratic Unionist Party led at the time by Ian Paisley. John Hume was indeed, trying to convince the DUP to enter political negotiations in order to foster peace. How does this speech display John Hume involvement in the Northern Irish peace process? One characteristic of this speech is that it questions the unionist’s way of defending their ideas and their religions by criticizing Paisleyism. It also aims to differentiate the SDLP from the IRA which was very unpopular at the time in part because of the Cold War and the fear of left extremism to convince the DUP to negotiate with his party. Finally, it portrays John Hume’s purposes for a united Ireland while demanding the DUP’s help to design it.

The first extract I want to analyse is one that challenges Protestant’s actions between l. 4 and l.7:” Is Paisleyism in any sense consistent with those great Protestant values of individual freedom and freedom of speech of which you are so rightly proud? Is not what is being said and done in your name in Northern Ireland a gross and unworthy abuse of everything you stand for?” 

• Paisley was a Loyalist, uncompromising towards Catholics. His efforts helped to bring down the Sunningdale Agreement of 1974 = in 1973, it was 1st attempt at peaceful settlement. It in part, implied to create a “council of Ireland” which was unacceptable for Loyalists.
• He  attempted to create a Protestant loyalist volunteer militia by creating the Third Force to fight IRA in 1981.
• John Hume here criticizes Paisley for his extremism and tries to remind the Protestants of their own values to stop violence and to encourage the DUP to enter peaceful political negotiation.

The second quotation I want to comment on is a passage which highlights John Hume’s desire to convince the DUP that the SDLP doesn’t support the IRA. Between l.24 and 28:” We say to the Provisionals, you are not Irish Republicans, you are extremists who have dishonoured and are dishonouring the deepest ideals of the Irish people. Can we remind you yet again that those whose inheritance you so falsely claim, laid down their arms in 1916 lest they cause any undue suffering to their Irish people”?

...