Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-03-30

1Sk1 OS
justified. Even the Loudon 6pestasor.
which Is usually distinguished Tor sober
mindness, avowsa belief that the Uls1sr
men will rebel, and will Be right IN
rebelling. and that their rebellion viii
prove successful.
Incredible a. these assertions look,
they are apparently pus forward IN
good faith. The Spectator thinks that
the Orangemen could and would con-
struct what it calls s.Plevna'' capsule
Of withstanding all the force 1t the
disposal Of the Doublin Parliament.
In the defence OF this Plevna they
would be assisted, it says. BY swarms
of Canadian, Scotchmen, Englishmen.
and probably Germans. Il forssees
that the interposition Of the British
Government would eventually be In
voked for the purpose Of enforcing the
Home Rule act passed by the PArliar
ment at Westminster, and It acknowl-
edges that the Intervention demanded
could not lawfully be refused, but Il
says that an attempt to use British reg-
iments for the purpose would prove too
heavy draft on the loyalty OF British
officers. The Spectators astonishing
article on this subject concludes with
the declaration that .swe shall be sor-
ry to see the Ulster men in insurrection,
but we cannot say that, according to
recognized moralties, they will be In
the wrong, while we can say that we
think they will try it. y
This talk sounds like the raving of :
madman. There never was wilder
notion than that six counties, In which
the Protestants happen to have . ma-
jority, have the right to thwart the
wishes of the rest of Ireland and set At
naught the will Of the United Kingdom
formulated in an act Of the imperial
Parliament. Suppose, for : moment,
that the six counties had majority Of
Catholics; then the threat Of insurrec-
ton would be universally regarded
with derision. For q considerable time
after the Act Of Union was passed the
Irish Catholis remained disfranchised.
although they constituted four-fifths Of
the population. No English Statesman,
however, and no reputable London
journal dreamed Of alleging that. BY
reason OF their political disabilities,
they would be justified In rebellion.
Now, should Mr.. Gladstone's Home
Rule bill be passed, the Protestants OF
Ulster will be subjected to no disabili-
ties whatever, whether political, relig-
ious, or commercial. The bill bristles
with safeguards and guarantees framed
on their behalf, although there Il no
reason to suppose that the Irish Catho-
lies would oppress their Protestant fel-
low citizens even II they had the pow
er. They will not have the power
however. They are expressly prohib-
tied from making any law for the e.
tablishment Of religion, and from Civ
ing sectarian bias to public edncar
tion. They are debarred from inter-
fering with the corporate rights Of
Protestant educational establishments
like Trinity College, Dublin. But, II
may be said, the Catholic majority could
indirectly injure industries Of Ulster
by taxing the whole country in order
to encourage by means Of bounties the
industries of the Catholic provinces.
How could bill to that effect become
q law? II would have to pass the Leg
islative Council or upper House Of the
Doublin Parliment, whose members are
to be chosen by small body Of elect
ors not exceeding one hundred and
seventy thousand in number. and pos
sessed Of . high property qualification.
Thus constituted, the Legislative Coun-
ell is meant to be and will be- q strong
hold of the Protestant minority. Il Il
true that ii it twice rejects . bill pass
ed by the lower House or Legislative
Assembly, the two chambers meet and
vote together. and. in such : case, the
Protestants might be outrnumbored.
But they could thenappeal 70 the Grown
to exercise its right Of veto, and II they