But then it is a
somewhat more established custom to obey an Act of Parliament and to keep
the peace. It may be argued that extreme misgovernment justifies men in
Ulster or elsewhere in refusing to obey the law. But then it would
justify them even more in refusing to appear professionally in a law court.
Etiquette cannot be at once so unimportant that Carson may shoot at the
King's uniform, and yet so important that he must always be ready to put
on his own. The Government cannot be so disreputable that Carson need not
lay down his gun, and yet so respectable that he is bound to put on his
wig. Carson cannot at once be so fierce that he can kill in what he
considers a good cause, and yet so meek that he must argue in what he
considers a bad cause. Obedience or disobedience, conventional or
unconventional, a solicitor's letter cannot be more sacred than the King's
writ; a blue bag cannot be more rational than the British flag. The thing
is rubbish read anyway, and the only difficulty is to get a joke good
enough to express it. It is a case for the Court Jester. The phantasy
of it could only be expressed by some huge ceremonial hoax. Carson ought
to be crowned with the shamrocks and emeralds and followed by green-clad
minstrels of the Clan-na-Gael, playing "The Wearing of the Green.
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