The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-22
MAKING RELIGION AN ISSUE
What Lord Salisbury's Appeal in Behalf
of the Ulsterites Really Means.
Ireland Likely TO Be the Scene This Summer
OF Lively Election Riots-His Lord
ships DesertiOn of Free Trade.
ENGLISH POLITICAL ISSUES.

Protestants Versus Irish Catholics-Protec-
tion to Industries and Reciprocity.
81 ecial to the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, May 2l.-It Is now considered
certain that the dissolution of Parliament
will take place about June 5. Lord Sails
bury has come to the conclusion. it is stat
ed, that his party is better able to 60 into
the conflict now than it would be in the
autumn. and that the elements of weak
ness in the Liberal ranks are at least as
menaoing to Liberal success as they would
be q few months later. Besides. in midsum-
mer there ID less suffering and discomfort
among the laboring classes. and less occa-
sion. therefore, to find fault with the party
in control of the country. Lord Salisbury
has outlined the principles in support of
which the Tories and Liberal Unionists
will ask for IN extension of power. One
of these is protection to British industry.
with a view to reciprocity. Another is
unyieldipg opposition to Irish homo rule.
or. as Lord Salisbury calls 1t, separation.
In support of the opposition to home rule.
the religious issue is brought into active
service, and nOnconformists, as well as
churchmeu. are appealed to not to surren-
der their brethren of Ulster to the mercies
of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. This
religious issue will be drummed upon more
and more as the struggle progresses. and if
a few lively riots can be got up In Ireland.
the blame for which can be laid upon the
Catholics. the religious appeal will be
greatly stimulated n strengthened.
There are indications already that the
contest in tho north of Ireland will be at
tended by q revival of those deplorable
conflicts which used to be common years
ago. but have been, happily, infrequent of
late. The Loyalists OF Ulster, and espe-
ciaily those who belong to the Orange
lodges, are aroused almost to frenzy at the
possibility of home rule. Up to O recent
period they had not considered the subject
seriously, believing that the English peO-
pie would never consent to see a separate
government in Ireland. But the Loyalists
have at length been aroused to the fact
that home rule is not only possible. but. by
many astute statesmen, considered prob
able. Hence their excitement.
The Tories, while appealing to religion
in protests against Irish separation. are
using their fair-trsde argument to gain the
votes of the workingmen. Fair trade, as
protection is called in England, has leaped
for W IN Importance within a few months.
The French tariff. following the Mckinley
tariff. is more than the British wOrklngmen
are inclined to bear. and Lord Salisbury
has struck q popular cord III promising re-
lief. Ii is customary for the manufacturer 8
of the continent to take whatever goods
they have left on hand and throw them
upon the British market as q sort of gen.
eral auction. shop for the disposal of
otherwise unstable articles. These
are sold off at any price, and. however
inferior they may De, they take the place of
something else. The Northumberland
act has bad some effect in protecting the
British workingman against foreign cOmpe-
tItion, but only among those purchasers
who care especially for the origin and
stamp of an article. With the great ma
jority who care nothing about where an ar.
ticle comes from. provided it Is what they
want and is cheap enough to offer an in
ducement, the merchandise-marks act has
no influence whatever. The act. too. has
been extensively evaded and violated.
Lord Salisbury does not propose to put a
tariff on the raw materials of manufacture.
or the necessities of life in the way of food.
but he would tax luxuries, aud clothing,
and other articles produced in Great
Britain.