New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-15
Solemn League and Covenant
New StyIe) To Be Sworn
on September %.
IN FAVOR OF THE UNION
Extremists Draw Analogy Be-
tween Their Position and
That of American Col
onists in 1885.
by Gable to Tho Tribune.l

London. Sept. 14-Ulster Day. when
is now rapidly approaching Will pro-
vide the most memorable demonstra-
ton in support of the act or union
which the Protestants Of Ireland nave
ever given. the whole Of the northern
province of Ireland is in a state Of
ferment, and the historic animosity ne
tween the Protestants and Catholics ~
Belfast, Of which it is difficult for any
one outside Of Ireland TO have proper
conception. is becoming more intense
with the approach Of September =, the
day fixed for the signing of the Solemn
League and Covenant binding all
classes Of the community TO resistance
10 Home Rule.
RI precise terms Of the covenant
will remain unknown until the Ilstcr
Unionist Council meets on September
% but il is believed that IT will de
clare uncompromising hostility to any
Dublin parliament and pledge its sig
natorics TO refuse to pay any taxation
decreed by any such legislature.
The suggestion has been made in
some papers that the Irish Union'st
leaders contemplate the seizure of the
Belfast postoffice or the Custom House,
but this is discredited in authoritative
quarters. though. there is little doubt
that plans have already been drawn up
for the institution of local Ulster
parliament in the event Of the Home
Rule bill becoming the law of the land.
Religious as Well as Political.
The Ulster movement is as much re-
ligious as political, and it is probable
that almost all the ministers II the
Protestant churches in Ulster will sign
the covenant. Arrangements are being
made to hold special religious services
in every district OF the province whore
there is Protestant community before
the people sign the covenant, and ii is
practically certain that the day will be
made a general holiday.
Belfast is, Of course, the heart and
soul of the movement. and the coz
poration, which is overwhelmingly
Unionist in political complexion, hay
ing now the power TO enforce a gen
eral holiday has decided to ask en-
ployers TO make September 2S a day
of rest.
The government, equally OF course. is
watching developments in the situation
very closely, for it is recognized by all
unbiased observers that If Ulster de-
clines TO be taxed the Home Rule oar
lament will soon be faced with q
crushing deficit. 1t may be a week and
possibly longer before the covenant is
fully signed, and estimates as to the
number Of signatures it will attract
vary greatly. Some calculators. who
Include every Protestant baby, go as
far as to make the total a million.
The campaign will begin with a
series Of big meetings throughout u
ster the first one at Enniskillen Oh
September IS and the final one in IL
ster Hall. Belfast, on September -. At
each meeting the same resolution will
be put: 1--WE VIII not have Home Rule"
oraneemen Will Fight.
The Unionist leaders are preparing a
peace campaign, but the Orangemen
are resolved TO take up arms if neces-
sary. They have been DRILLING for the
last year, and are known TO have plenty
of arms and ammunition. a new or
ganization called the Young Citizen
Volunteers Of Ireland has just been
formed, and though it is described as
non-political the fact OF it's being COM
posed largely Of Orangemen suggests
the use to which 1t would be put If the
government took drastic measures To
crush the resistance OF Ulster.
The Unionist newspapers are point
ing to the American Revolution as JUS
tification for Ulster, and say that when
the stamp act was imposed on the