Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 21 October 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Herbert Pim

This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in 2017. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.

 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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The letter is from Herbert Moore Pim (1883-1950) to John Sweetman (1844-1936). Pim was a political activist and writer. He had joined the Irish Volunteers in 1914, published a pamphlet series entitled 'Tracts of our times', including writing by Patrick Pearse, and in early 1916 founded the literary and political monthly, 'The Irishman'. Sweetman was a member of Sinn Féin and patron to Arthur Griffith. In 1915 he spoke out against conscription and was arrested in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising. This letter refers to politics and the Sinn Fein movement with Pim mentioned that the Sinn Fein revival would prevent internal dissent and 'Invincible methods', i.e. violence. It also refers Sir John Griffith and his son, former and current chief engineers at Dublin Port and to potato blight which had set in in Connacht, suggesting reducing the export of foodstuffs and sending them to the West of Ireland instead.

 National Library of Ireland Sweetman Family Papers, Collection List No. 156; Ms. 47,589 /12 https://letters1916.ie/item/5605 English Herbert Pim 1916-10-21 65 University Road, Belfast, Ireland John Sweetman Male 1950 Politics Industry and Public Administration

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 65, University Road, Belfast 21st October 1916 My dear Mr. Sweetman, I am extremely obliged for your valuableletter which I shall publish in the issue of 29th inst. You must forgive me for not replying to your first letter;but really the amount of correspondence which has poured intothis house would frighten any white man. We have taken thepublic fancy with a vengeance. The Nation League went down at thefirst blow; Judge in this week's Irish Nation , says he muststand aside, although doing so means a great sacrifice. Seenwe shall have all the 'safe' men and all the advanced men crowdinginto the Sinn Fein movement; but by that time the right peoplewill be in command in each district. I am issuing five littletracts at once, price ; and instructions for the formation ofclubs will be published in the next issue. Belfast is at work,& has conrad secured suitable premises. I see you refer toMr. John W. Griffith in your letter for publication, and to SirJohn Griffith in your letter to me. Is this a case of father &son? Where does Sir John Griffith reside? & could youcommunicate with him on my behalf? He might be inclined towrite me at your suggestion. I see in this Sinn Fein revivala safety valve for national aspiration, which will prevent internaldisturbance and dissention, & will avoid invincible methods. I think the Coal question, the Harbour Board question& the coming potato famine in Connacht are the most important at themoment. Blight has set in all over Connacht. The Harbour boardscan can be compelled to reduce the expert of foodstuffs, & publicopinion must send those foodstuffs to the West. We have our handsfull. Wait until the time of the bag meetings comes, & youwill see the largest gathering in Phoenix Park that ever was knownor ever will be known. And the fine thing will be that the meetingwill represent a dynamic force, not a mere gathering of listeners;but a body of men whose activity for Ireland's welfare will becomeevident in each action of their future life in Ireland Yours very sincerely,Herbert Pim John Sweetman Telegram to John F. Sweetman, 28 July 1916Postcard from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 1 October 1916Letter from Fr. Martin Mahoney to John Sweetman, 2 December 1915Letter from John Sweetman to Sir John Griffith, 23 October 1916Letter from Herbert Pim To John Sweetman, 16 September 1916Letter from John Sweetman to Herbert Pim, 21 September 1916Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 28 September 1916Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 30 September 1916Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 12 October 1916Letter from John Sweetman to Herbert Pim, 15 September 1916Letter from Fr. Martin Mahoney to John Sweetman, 12 November 1915.Letter from John Sweetman to Piaras Béaslaí, 10 March 1916Letter from Fr. Martin Mahoney to John Sweetman, 18 January 1916.Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 21 October 1916 Herbert Pim Letter from Herbert Pim to Nancy O'Rahilly, 26 May, 1916.Postcard from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 1 October 1916Letter from Herbert Pim, 9 October 1916Letter from Herbert Pim To John Sweetman, 16 September 1916Letter from John Sweetman to Herbert Pim, 21 September 1916Letter from John Sweetman to Herbert Pim, 14 October 1916Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 21 October 1916 65 University Road, Belfast, Ireland Letter from Herbert Pim to John Sweetman, 21 October 1916