Quote Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh View Post
Have to agree there. Having talked over the issue with Madrid quietly -- and I assume at least a few 'deniable' emissaries did so -- and having thereby learned that there was no groundswell of support for secession, they should have known right then that it was a choice of 'lives, fortune, sacred honor' [call out the militia and fight for freedom as needed] or time to shut up and leave things be [inglorious, but their current lives aren't notably horrific].

I have to agree here that the Catalan leaders did not cover themselves with laurels here.
"Groundswell support" may be also ambiguous. It depends on what the groundswell is ready for - to get together, wave flags and go home after that or stay on the square and put up resistance in case they are pressed into submission.