Can the ballot box still pull Ireland round?

THE IRISH are never logical in their approach to practical and political matters. The British usually are. This is the maxim on which we have long been nurtured. So let it be with Northern Ireland today.
Life in that troubed province enters yet another phase after yesterday's by-election in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Evert more important than the result is the new principle that has been established.
Provisional Sinn Fein — political wing of Provisional IRA — has long been urged to replace the bullet with the ballot box as a means of achieving influence. Now that it has — under whatever particular political banner — done just that, one must (logically ) expect it to receive praise and congratulations. Will it?
Educated English Catholics meanwhile are taking a %ellinformed and logic-oriented interest in these terrible Irish troubles which they find so distressing. To help on the cause, the Urbanus Insight Team, for want of a worse name, has distributed a questionnaire among such circles in order to promote general knowledge of background matters. VNe are now awaiting replies to the historical and geographical questions.
"How many counties are there in Ulster." we asked for example, "that are part of the Republic of Ireland?" (Shouldn't be too difficult ). "Name three of the six counties of `Northern Ireland-• was another question (elementary my dear Carson.)
A final question was "what crime was committed by the man who made the latest by-election necessary? To this question an immediate answer was called for and the respondents. being well informed, naturally knew that Bobby Sands was given 14 years in the Maze for being found sitting in a car. in which there vvas ammunition, near the scene of an abortive raid.
Such a prison sentence was demanded by logic because of the emergency measures essential in the effective "war" situation which exists. Such measures even have to ensure that all prisoners taken shall not be prisoners of war but just ordinary prisoners. That's only logical; if confusing.
Such confusing logic has convinced Mr Humphrey Atkins that it is time for him to get out. A pity, surely, when there is at last a chance of the ballot box actually taking over from the bullet provided those who have urged this alternative will abide by its consequences. And these will be that Provisional Sinn Fein will become the official opposition party in Northern Ireland. That, in turn, will mean that the Provisional IRA will become a thing of the past — provided all sides are willing to participate in the ensuing political debate. But will they?
Mr Atkins, for one, is not worried. He sees the position in terms of cold objectivity and, refusing to allow emotion or personal feelings to influence him, intends to be far assay when the talking starts. It's only logical after all.
Lindy does her 'own thing'
CONGRATULATIONS to the every day more popular Archbishop of Canterbury for being able to get away for a short unhounded holiday after an arduous year. It has been quite amusing to see the press trying to be very knowing about the movements of himself and his wife.
It is often by the small things that the gosspists give themselves away. One Sunday paper referred to Mrs Runcie as Rosalind. If you called her by that name she might well wonder whom you meant. To her friends she is always Lindy.
The press have admittedly been puzzled by the extent to which she has gone on doing "her own thing" without causing any lack of tranquility in any but the more hidebound of Anglican circles. In the latter she has made it clear that the Victorian atmosphere of Lambeth Palace, with a mouselike wife sitting behind the tea cups, has gone for ever. Her naturalness has won her and her husband thousands of new friends. She is still to be seen often near her old home in St Albans, where she has retained many of her former music pupils. She is loved by all.
With the revival of interest in the vigorous Church of the early centuries there is a corresponding revival of interest in the important part played by Bishops' wives in the spread of Christianity. It is already being asked in Rome if the Bishops will be allowed to bring their wives to he next Vatican Council. The usual answer given is `Yes' — provided those with husbands have a similar privilege. The projected date for Vatican III, by the way, is the year 2004 — the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of Our Lord. Not long now.
Pitfalls in pounds and pence
YESTERDAY saw the ending of something that has ruled our lives for many years — minimum lending rate. Its demise is of no mere academic interest and will vitally affect millions of people, rich or poor.
This weekend many people will be reading with greater avidity than ever those succulent advertisements on the Sunday papers' financial pages vying with each other as to how much nett/gross/basic rate-tax free /long term /short term, etc. etc, interest you can get by investing your savings with this or that miracle company.
But don't believe everything you read in the large print and be very very careful before you actually send your cheque. There are many hidden snags in the small print and many rackets in existence despite respectably sounding names and