Butterflies (verse)
Davies, Mary Carolyn
June 9, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 123 sure of the sympathy of all passers-by and immune tudes to both sides,...
...But the position was hopeless, and the General Council knew it...
...if the strike "won" in the sense that the government Leave thy close room, that, couched 'mid grasses rank, was made to sue for peace, there would be less capacity While a wood's warbled woes for thine complain, in the mining industry and every other industry to Nature thy wounded heart may salve again, afford decent wages...
...It appeared that as a result of this Butterflies are flowers that flee decision, the unions could be sued corporately for With some wind we cannot see damages due to the strike ; the leaders of the unions From their parent bush or tree...
...The strikers were as solid Like those rebels, butterflies...
...Some well-meaning but ill-advised Catholic Labor did their utmost to "carry on" and defeat the strike, M. P.'s have publicly reproved His Eminence for his they bore no ill will to the strikers...
...numerous among the miners and the dockers who for the strikers were attacking the whole community were in 'the forefront of the industrial struggle...
...now forget thy pain weakening and exhausting the country, so that even With quickened pulse the quickening season thank...
...could be sued personally for inciting men to an illegal See ! The other flowers try strike...
...There was the most marvelous good which is the lawfully constituted authority of the counhumor and good behavior among all classes...
...adult population of the country was acting on The overwhelming majority of Catholics in Engthe instructions of the General Council, it seems rather land are wage-earners, and they are generally very unreal to speak of the strikers attacking the "com- staunch trade-unionists...
...incidents occurred here and there, but they were of no All are bound to uphold and assist the government, importance...
...Catholics are particularly munity," though there is a sense in which it is true...
...The strike was abandoned be- With simples that of old Antaeus drank...
...The when Mr...
...Legally, they had not a leg to stand on...
...As nearly half the ity of God Himself...
...Disorderly brethren...
...It is a direct challenge to lawfully constituted ing...
...Intempestiva Moreover, the continuance of the strike was not hurt- Once more the lumb'ring earth heaves its chill flank ing the mine-owners as such, and it was not hurting Through tempered sun and blessedness of rain...
...They did not want to interfere with electricity authority, and inflicts, without adequate reason, immense and gas supplies for domestic purposes, and conse- discomfort and injury on millions of our fellow-countryquently they had to tolerate the supply of power for men...
...From their station, I surmise, It had not broken down...
...but the outcome of the general strike has The position of the unions was seriously menaced provided a speedy justification of the Cardinal...
...upon the fence during the crisis, and preached plati- HENRY LONGAN STUART...
...that it was not a trade dispute, and could not claim the protection of the Trade Disputes Act of 19o6 which is the modern charter of British Butterflies trade-unionism...
...on the ninth day as they had been on the first, and MARY CAROLYN DAVIES...
...It is probable With loveless summer sated, and is grown that the principal leaders never intended there should Kin to the winter it was wont to hate...
...and that the unions could be restrained from To leave, too, when winds go by...
...They're not brave enough to rise The strike was suddenly called off on its ninth day...
...So, though people ful...
...It was a grave thing for the Cardinal-Archbishop in these was universally recognized that the strikers were doing circumstances, before there was any evidence that the what they thought would help the miners, and every- strike would fail, to denounce it as wrong and sinbody sympathized with the miners...
...The General Council showed But stir me not ! My soul begins to tire, moral courage in stopping it so soon...
...strike was illegal...
...Justice Astbury declared that the general general strike is discredited, morally and practically...
...Westminster, said The trade unions did not try to stop safety and There is no justification for a general strike of this sanitary services, such as fire brigades and street lean- character...
...declaration...
...It was only hurting and Spring wears to summer...
...There try, and represents, therefore, in its own sphere, the authorwas very little bitterness...
...be a strike...
...an illegal strike...
...Flinging the windows open, and have strown While the Protestant churches in England sat Forgotten flowers on the empty grate...
...cause of its inanity...
...there was no sign of any weakening in their ranks...
...June 9, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 123 sure of the sympathy of all passers-by and immune tudes to both sides, Cardinal Bourne, Archbishop of from interference...
...The strikers were content with owe to God, Who is the source of that authority, and withdrawing their labor and with "peaceful picket- against the charity and brotherly love which is due to our ing...
...using their funds to pay benefits to men engaged in Though they yearn to, they can't fly...
...They were trying to bluff the government, For I could weep because they quench my fire, but the bluff was called...
...the government as such...
...It of which they themselves were a considerable part...
...It is, therefore, a sin against the obedience we industrial purposes...
...They did not resort to sabotage...
Vol. 4 • June 1926 • No. 5
