News Letter's tribute honours Ulster's 'lion-hearted leader'
"IN the death of Lord Craigavon the community of Northern Ireland sustains a grievous blow," declared the News Letter in an editorial published the day after the passing of Lord Craigavon.
The News Letter's tribute to Lord Craigavon proceeded with a reflection on the achievements of Northern Ireland's great general: "If Lord Carson was the architect of the Ulster state, it was James Craig who laid the foundations, erected the structure which exists today, and devoted the rest of his life to the task of maintaining it unimpaired."
Contrasting the partnership between Lord Craigavon and Lord Carson the News Letter remarked that the two men were wedded to the cause of Ulster.
"The two men, so utterly different in many ways, worked together in complete harmony because each regarded Ulster's cause as a sacred trust, for which no sacrifice was too great to be made or risked. And what they were ready to put to the hazard they expected others to venture just as freely.
"To that spirit, primarily, the Province owed its escape from the danger that threatened. More, however, was required – inspired leadership and organising ability, and if Lord Carson provided the one, his chief lieutenant supplied the other in full measure."
Craigavon served for 14 years as Lord Carson worthy lieutenant before the leadership of Ulster Unionism, noted the News Letter, passed to Craigavon on February 3, 1921 when Lord Carson had proposed him as leader, it was a proposal which was seconded by Sir James Stronge, DL, the head of the Orange Order.
Craigavon had accepted the leadership of the Province, "not unwillingly, but with a sense of solemn responsibility, not unmixed, perhaps, with foreboding", stated the News Letter.
"With his gift of prescience, he must have known the battle was not yet won – that ahead of the new state which he was to serve as Premier were still further trials and tribulations," commented the News Letter. And his abilities as a statesman were to be tested time and again.
It added: "Not for a moment, however, did he hesitate, and in the crises that followed – the Boundary dispute no less than the organised attempts by violence to make administration of the area impossible – Ulster had full cause to be thankful for – and to – James Craig. And who that has watched events since then will say that debt has ended there?
"The subsequent history of Ulster has been one of progress in many directions, and yet always of defence against from attacks from without and within, and for the success that defensive struggle it owes much to its sagacious and lion-hearted leader."
Concluding its tribute to Lord Craigavon hailed the dead Premier's unflagging service to the people of Northern Ireland: "His long Premiership – unrivalled in the annals of the Empire – was one of unflagging service, and if, at times, the ingratitude of which all statesmen are victims permitted controversy to arise within the ranks of his followers, the Unionist community as a whole never wavered in its loyalty to him.
"His death at this juncture comes, as we have said, as a grievous blow to the Province, for only in the sense that, throughout his lifetime, he gave his best in promoting its welfare can it be said that his work was done."
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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Light rain
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