The Emergency Committee / ‘Daily Express’

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THE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE. Leading Article from DAILY EXPRESS of December 15th, 1881. THE noble work done by the Orange Emergency Committee in defence of life and property since its formation, many months ago, has naturally brought into prominence the loyal character and courageous spirit of the Institution itself. The address of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, for which we make room to-day, will therefore attract more attention. It is no longer possible to ignore the splendid services it has rendered to the country at a critical period in her history. The disturbers of the peace and the enemies of the Constitution have paid to the Orange Institution the tribute of their hostility; but loyal men of all denominations and parties, who have a stake in the country, and desire to repress anarchy and crime, and to preserve the moral bonds which hold society together, bear willing testimony to its earnest and successful labours. It would be base ingratitude, of which we trust no loyal Irishman would be capable, to forget that it is to the prompt and resolute action of the Orange Emergency Committee that we are indebted for the organization that now exist for the defence of property. It was the pioneer of the movement, and showed by its action how the enemies of law and order, of property, and of peace, could be encountered, and their wicked plots defeated. The Emergency Committee sounded the true note after the Eoycott Expedition last year had suggested the expediency of grappling firmly with the difficulty in a spirit of manly self-reliance instead of yielding to despondency, and calling passively on the Government for help. Its services have been given from no sorcid motives, but from the impulse of an honest zeal and devotion to the cause with which the Institution is identified. The work it has done has been done as inexpensively as it has been done effectually, the paid staff of the Committee being so small as to make the cost but nominal, while the members have devoted their time and abilities to the organization with no reward but the approval of their countrymen, whom they served with generous impartiality, making no difference as to creed or party, but going as promptly to the rescue of the Roman Catholic landlord or farmer as to that of the most earnest Protestant. It has often been urged that there should be an amalgamation between the Emergency Committee and the Property Defence Association, but we have shown more than once that this, in the nature of things, is impossible, the Committee being connected with an Institution which, though it extends its help to all denominations, is composed exclusively of Protestants. It is due to it, however, to let the public know that it has done a great work in defence of property, chiefly out of funds contributed by its own members in all parts of the world, and that, without the complete organization which enables it to supply any number of men who may be required for the service, it would be impossible to ma…