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Unionism is riven by dissention and is split right down the
middle, with two large parties, Ulster Unionist and Democratic
Unionist representing the vast majority of Unionist voters
and bitterly divided on policy tactics.
This year will mark the centenary of the once mighty Ulster
Unionist Party, and that should be a cause for celebration.
However, the important event is overshadowed by the continuing
turmoil within the party, the most recent manifestation being
the defection of Jeffrey Donaldson, Arlene Foster and Norah
Beare to the DUP.
The Orange Standard, in keeping with its consistent policy
has not aligned itself with any branch of the Unionist 'family',
during this internecine conflict, and in the recent Assembly
election we called for Orangemen and their families to vote
for candidates who are members of the Order.
We urged them to vote after that for anti-Agreement candidates
and those recognised as being solidly in favour of Northern
Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the argument resulting
in Bro. Jeffrey Donaldson leaving the Ulster Unionist Party
which he had served for so many years, it is deeply regretable
that this leading member should have reached the conclusion
that there was no future for his talents in the Ulster Unionist
Party.
Bro. Donaldson, who enjoyed the guidance and advice in his
political career from distinguished brethren like Bros Lord
Molyneaux and Bro the Rev Martin Smyth, is the sort of member
the Ulster Unionist Party cannot afford to lose.
It's a sad commentary on the state in which Unionism finds
itself that the newspapers, radio and television are filled
with articles and hard-hitting statements by members of the
Ulster Unionist Party and DUP lambasting one another, and
expending their energies on attacking the respective Unionist
parties.
All this is happening at a time when militant republicanism
and nationalism has been making progress and achieving many
of their objectives as they seek to dislodge Northern Ireland
from its cherished place within the United Kingdom.
Dismayed Unionists throughout Northern Ireland see evidence
of the onslaught being waged against the British identity
of the province. The axing of the RUC with its proud Royal
prefix, the ban on traditional Orange parade routes, the removal
of the Crown and Royal insignia from courthouse buildings,
and the release of so many convicted terrorists who served
only a fraction of their sentences for terrible crimes has
angered Unionists.
All this has taken place against a backdrop of acrimony and
strife within the Ulster Unionist Party, a party, which for
most of the past 100 years has either governed Northern Ireland
or been the largest political party in the North.
It is an indictment of the current leadership of the UUP
that the party is in this mess and, quite clearly, those at
the top should seriously be considering their positions.
Unionism's divisions are nothing new, and it is almost 40
years since the first serious splits appeared in the Unionist
monolith.
But these have really been accentuated in recent years and
it has proved more and more difficult to achieve a healing
process and to bridge the gap between the opposing sections
in the Party.
The sad loss of leading personalities like Jeffrey Donaldson
and Arlene Foster, who have defected to the DUP, is a matter
of great concern to the rank-and-file unionist people.
Orangemen and Orangewomen share that concern as they know
that the political party which has been so closely aligned
to the Orange Order for generations cannot afford to lose
people of this calibre without an adverse effect on the party.
Somehow the process of rancour and divisions must be halted
and a way found to bring about at least an understanding,
if unity is not possible, between the main strands of Unionism.
If this cannot be achieved, then the future prospects for
Ulster Unionism could be bleak.
Further divisions, combined with dismay and diminuation of
morale on the part of unionist voters could place more Unionist-held
seats in jeopardy at elections - not a state of affairs which
benefits the unionist community or the British position in
Northern Ireland.
All men and women with concern for the welfare of the unionist
population must address this issue and the concern of rank-and-file
unionists - it is of the utmost importance.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland will continue to offer
its support in any helpful capacity in bids to achieve an
understanding, if unity proves impossible, between the Ulster
Unionist and Democratic Unionist parties.
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