The Irish standard., 1893-04-08
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1893.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1893.
PRESBYTERIAN HOME RULERS.
It is historical fact that in the clos
ing years of the last century the Presby
teriaus of Ulster joined their Catholic
countrymen in the attempt to free Ire
land by force of arms. They were among
the originators and organizers of that
noble band Of patriots known AS the
Omitted Irishmen," and many of them
suffered imprisonment and martyrdom
that Ireland might be a nation. Among
the Ulster Presbyterians OF that time
whose names are enrolled in the cata~
logue of Irish rebels are several minis
tors, three of whom were executed on the
scsffold. The spirit of Irish nationality
is strong at the present day in the bosoms
of a respectable minority of the Presby-
terian ministers and people Of the North.
At recent general assembly of the Pres
byterian clergy IN ireland the question
of Home Rule came up among other
things for consideration. A resolution
against Home Rule was introduced and
brought out spirited protest from Rev.
j. B. Armour, of Ballymoney, who offered
an amendment to the effect that Ireland
should receive such measure of self
government as would be consistent with
the unity OF the British empire, the SUI
premacy of parliament, and the protec-
ton of minorities in Ireland. He sup
ported the amendment in a lengthy
speech in which he told his clerical
brethren that so far as the administration
of Ireland vas concerned, the Presby-
terians had been excluded from any
share in the management of affairs; that
to start public life as Presbyterian was
to start life with dead weight around
ones neck; that the faith which Pres
byterian protested had been only pass
port to degradation and insult. He re-
minded them that it was within the
memory of some present that the ruling
faction endeavored very hard to make
the marriage. performed by Presbyterian
ministers null and void, and to put q
stigma upon theic households and their
children, and though that stigma had
been averted, they and their children had
been labelled as political pariahs ever
since. He declared that three-fourths of
the Episcopalian rulers of Ulster we're
the descendants of men who were rene
eades from the Presbyterian faith. They
we're condemned to political ostracism,
while those on the other side were re-
warded with political distinction. Rev.
Mr.. Armour then exclaimed: "God in
His Providence by means of the enfran-
chised democratic elector in the counties
had decreed that this regime, this tyranny
of one class and creed over the majority
of their countrymen, must 60, and go it
must." He, warned them against tying
themselves to the Tory party that had
never done anything for Presbyterians,
the party that had surrendered in the
past and must surrender now, because it
was the party of begeyism, and the party
of blindman's buff. "In Belfast" con.
tinued Rev. Armour, "people were talk
ing about fighting and dying. Fighting
tor what-dying for what? Was it for
landlordism?" He then eulogized Glad
stone amid q storm of Kisses and said he
was the greatest genius in statecraft,
which not only Europe, but the world,
had seen for two centuries. He was the
man who took the farmers out Of the
hands of the landlords, and was the first
statesman in England who acknowledged
that the farmer had rights to anything
beyond the grave and the workhouse.
He earnestly besought the members Of
the assembly to give up raving against
Home Rule and asked them to come to 9
common-sense decision, and not to sell
the power and progress Of their church
IN Ireland for the next generation.
The Presbyterian assembly did not
heed the protest Of Rev. Mr.. Armour, but
passed the resolution against Home Rule
MAJ ority. His words, however,
viii mink deep into the hearts Of the
Presby terian farmers who have found rel
hefs from landlords lam through the en-i
lightsned policy q Ne. Gladstone
ss