“A SOLDIER’S SONG.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 8

“A SOLDIER’S SONG.”

ECHO OF SINN FEIN RISING. THE IRISH PUBLIC’S CHOICE. Sons of the Gael, Men of tile Pale, j The long-watclied day is breaking; The serried ranks of Innisfail Shall set the tyrant quaking. Our camp-fires now are burning low; See in the East a silvery glow, Out yonder waits the Saxon foe. So chant a soldier’s songThis is a verse of “A Soldier's Song,” about which a sensation was caused a few weeks ago,, when tire GovernorGeneral of the Irish Free State, Mr. James McNeill, refused to attend the annua)! races of Trinity College, Dublin, because the university authorities would' not play it as the national anthem instead of “God Save the King.’ When the dispute arose, President Cosgrave announced) that there was no disagreement between himself and) Mr McNeill on the matter, and Mr Blythe, vice-president of the executive council, hinted that legislation plight be brought in to make tlhe playing oif the air compulsory on certain occasions. IF THE KING CAME. Of course this Sinn Fein song, like “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is an anthem of usage rather than laiw, writes the Dublin ,corres]>ondent of the “New York Herald-Tribune.’’ At first the tune was played l mainly at mil.itiairy aml patriotic demonstrations, but in the last few years its adopion has become quite general. Certain groups, however, resented) it as ni “party” air. ’ and .regarded “God Save the King” as the proper anthem. This stand

drew a good deal of popular resentment. Tile general view here is that if King George were to visit the Free State lie would he received by “A Soldier’s Song” as the hymn of v nation of which lie i.s sovereign, and the British anthem would not he played. On the other hand, if the British premier came toi Ireland in his official capacity. “Gold Saa’-e the King” would be played as the anthem of Great Britain, of which he is head. The fine distinction is not generally understood, and. it is believed, was not very clear to the Dublin university authorities. Some time ago a rule was adopted by which army and' police bands could appear only at functions where the Irish anthem was played, but it seems the use of the tune is now general. I MEMORIES OF 1916. ! Heretofore “A Soldiers Song” lias I bee it attacked on musical grounds.

Critic** asserted it was impressive and nofc too easily sung, also that the sentiments it expressed, were entirely bellicose. Defenders of the tune replied that national anthems are born and not made, and that n.ll the objections to the Irish lyric had already been voiced concerning “The Star-Spangled Danner.” They pointed to the “Marseillaise’' uii* another example of si.' natianol hymn all the more inspiring becamse of the events that led to its birth. “Ai .Soldier’s Song’’ to the Dish m'ind is closely associated with the Sinn Fein revolution. It conjures pictures oif the Dull din 1 an nri cat I os during the street fighting with the British in blaster week. 101 d, when the uipristing that led to the establishment of the Free State seemed a forlorn venture. The tune, probably has a sentimental value no j

fault iu composition could counterbalance.

One of the Dublin newspaper,s did seek a new anthem on its own responsibility, and opened a competition, for j a suitable lyric. Among the judges I was W. B. Yeats, the poet. Apparent- ' ]y the verses submitted were partioul- . ally uninspired, for the adjudicators wrote that not one of them was •worth ! the prize money, nor “any money I whatever.” Some of the offerings, were .published, and provided the Irish capij tal with mild entertainment. Since then no effort of the kind has been made. The decision of the judges was hardly encouraging. OLD SONOS SUPERSEDED ' Now that the air has been cleared there will, no doubt, be less confusion on the part of bandmasters, whose ' ideas of ai national air have differed widely. Meetings of the old Nationalist Party during the leadership of John Redmond usually wouud up with the playing of “God Save Ireland” to the tun© of “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching,” “St. Patrick’s Day” 'and “Weavin’ of the Green’’’ also had a prominent place, but they have been relegated to a less, important position under the new dispensation. Not that there remains die slightest feeling against British ceremonial observances, but it is felt that the new Irish State should have the accessary .badges qf nationhood assured by the Anglo-Irish Treaty. This thought appears to be the motivating one of President Cosgfave’s government m these matters, and is being worked out with little friction, considering file old sores imolved.