The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-04-09
Why Does Ulster Revolt?

w ~ oiiiVoI boiiy III pui
newspapers su ch headlines as
Ulster in a State OF Revolt. "
wv ar Imminent in Ulster"
Why is it, that the Scotch-Irish
people-a people noted for peace,
justice, and diplomacy-w would
arise in rebellion against the
English government? The at
tention of the world is now at
tracted to the action of the Scotch
Irish in Ulster, the whole north
ern province of Ireland.
When the dark cloud of war is
lowering over so many nations of
the earth, it shows Ulster in a
bad light to rise up in revolt un-
less for the best of causes. The
other provinces of Ireland have
so often rebelled against English
rule, that it may truly be said
that Ireland is a land of woes,
because, for many centuries the
cruel heel of the foreign oppres-
sor has been on the Irish neck;
and England has so often taken
advantage of the unhappy re-
ligious complications in Ireland,
and stirred up strife within her
borders, which has laid waste
her resources, and made her peo-
pie weak and impotent, either to
govern themselves, or to resist
succeeding ingssions. 1t may be
truly said that there is scarcely a
spot in all the length of this fa-
nous island, but what has been
nurtured by the blood of patriots;
and the fitful flames of revolt and
dissension have burst forth in
termittently for many centuries.
The qualities for peace and JUS
tice which have distinguished the
Scotch-Irish people of Ulster,
have always initiated in restor-
ing peace and harmony in her
sister provinces and throughout
the English government; yet,
now, strange as it may seem, the
Scotch-Irish of Ulster, are in a
state of revolt against England,
and against the most of Ireland
as well.
Why does this condition exist
in Ulster? is a question that the
writer will try to answer.
The trouble in Ulster to-day is
largely religious, the result of
hoary feuds based upon religious
differences. The scheme of Home
Rule which the English parlia-
ment has almost as good as pass
ed, has stirred up all these religi-
Gus differences. The Scotch-Ir-
ish people reject this scheme of
Home Rule. They say, it does
not suit them; they don't want it.
The English government under
the guise and pretense, that it
will ameliorate the condition of
the people of Ireland, is about to
force Home Rule upon them.
But England's fairness, justice,
and diplomacy with Ireland, has
never been commendable. 1t was
not with America, and we'll the
Irish people know it-especially
the Scotch Irish people of Ulster.
Away back in the centuries when
King James | was on the throne,
the lands of Ulster were confis-
Gated; i. e., seized and appropri-
ated for public Sc It'll EN- ent.
Scotch immigrants who left Scot
land on account of English re-
ligious persecution, came and
took up the lands of Ulster under
homestead rights, same as has
prevailed in the United States.
These Scotch settlers brought
Presbyterianism with them and
expected they would enjoy re-
ligious freedom and liberation.
But not so for any great length
of time. 1t was not long until
the English parliament passed
the obnoxious TEST" and Mar
riage" laws, and many of them
had to dispose of their lands and
emigrate to America. Many of
them settled in the Great Cum
berland Valley of Pennsylvania.
The English government has
so manipulated the management
of Ulster, that to-day she has the