ULSTER'S Orangemen - Reservation Indians!

This evocative phrase is gaining currency among some Orangemen. It springs from the Sinn Fein/IRA campaign, which, via manipulated "residents' groups", aims to squeeze them out. The ultimate result would equate the Orangemen with reservation Indians, their culture restricted to the `reservations'.

The fear is real, and is not totally illogical. For example, one of the places this fear is frequently expressed is Coalisland. There, a shower of stones at an Orange procession, combined with the local Orange leaders refusal to have any truck with minions of Sinn Fein/IRA, resulted in the Orangemen abandoning their parade.

Coalisland has been surrendered. There will be no "Twelfth" in that town again. Other Orangemen see this as a defeat, a step towards success for the Provos "reservation Indian strategy". More seriously, it may be a step nearer a Bosnia type scenario for Ulster.

Orangemen recognise that not all nationalists are unconcerned about their expulsion from what had previously been common territories. Some see the parroting of slogans, such as "no talk, no walk is not such a clever idea after all.

"Consensus" rather than "consent" is now being offered as a way out. Orangemen welcome this change. The demand for the over riding priority of local consent, while superficially reasonable, would eventually produce not one but two sets of reservation Indians. This is in nobody's interest.

Because of this the vast majority of Orangemen could live with the idea of consensus, if that beans taking reservation Indians. This is in nobody's interest.

Because of this the vast majority of Orangemen could live with the idea of consensus, if that means taking into account all views held in good faith. However, it would not be acceptable if it were hijacked by the provos and made a factory for fraudulent accusations.

THIS consensus approach of course would not suit the IRA agenda. It would not produce confrontation between communities or conflict with the police. Orangemen know the Provos are the real beneficiaries of confrontation. Orange leaders will be doing their best to drive this message home. Whoever fuels conflict helps the IRA war machine, wittingly or unwittingly.

This is why the courageous leadership of the present Grand Master of the Orange Order, Mr Robert Saulters, should be welcomed by all men of goodwill. No more than any other vertebrate Orangeman, will Robert Saulters go cap in hand to the henchmen of the IRA asking permission to walk the roads of Ulster. Those who portray him as being prepared to do so are guilty of wicked slander.

Like all other inhabitants of Ireland, Orangemen are free born citizens in a democratic state. That brings certain inalienable rights, and one of these is the right of free association. This is not up for negotiation.

Of course, other people also have rights. That is where problems arise. Orangemen see this clearly. They are willing to meet their bona fide nationalist neighbours not to ask permission to walk on the public highways, but to hear what the perceived difficulties re, and to explore ways and means of resolving them.

Our nationalist neighbours should put themselves in our shoes. Is it altogether unnatural that we should refuse to negotiate with people who want to bomb us out of existence? This is not paranoia. Orangeism's long support for the British connection has placed it fairly in the sights of any anti British "physical force" campaign. The IRA hates the Orange Order. It needs to destroy it, not merely to discredit it.

SADLY, its task is not hindered by lapses within Oraageism. There are Orangemen who forget they belong to a society which is made up of "those who are attached to the religion of the Reformation" and declares it "will not admit into its brotherhood persons whom an intolerant spirit leads to persecute, injure, or upbraid any man on account of his religious opinions".

Gauged by its own high standard Orangeism has failures to confess. But where on earth is the body which has no such failure?

The scandal of Harryville is a shame to all Protestants, as is the burning of Roman Catholic churches. Individually, only a malignant minority is guilty in these matters. Yet they have acted in our name.

The image is mirrored in the burning of Orange halls and the destruction of Protestant sanctuaries. No sensible Orangeman holds all Roman Catholics responsible for this, or the slaughter of his co-religionists. Yet these deeds have been done by professing Roman Catholics, just as the loyalist atrocities are supposedly `for God and Ulster. Evil faces us in either case.

That evil can only be conquered when decent people of both traditions see again that to respect and defend their neighbour's rights is no betrayal of their convictions. In better days this was often the case. God's grace it can be so again.