The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-07-27
!, our modern civilization. But I do

to our modern civilization. But I do
not propose to pursue that line of
argument. The facts are pretty we'll
known, even in Unionist Ulster, de-
sssspite every effort to keep them from
the knowledge of the general public.
Tyranny and oppression, whether
governmental or industrial, cannot be
hidden. 1t will out somehow, and cry
to heaven for justice. 1t has been no
pleasure to me to direct attention to
the existence of Industrial evils In
Belfast. the city of my birth, and
whose Parliamentary representative I
+, am proud to be. l want Home Rule,
,-etlot to injure Belfast. but to help it,
and to encourage it. and to make the
lot of the toilers there, the toilers
who are the true glory of the city and
OF the nation, brighter and happier
and better than it is today. That is
my ambition, and I challenge any
Unionist to deny that it is perfectly
compatible with the most genuine 10y
atty to Belfast. and with the strong
est desire to advance the best inter-
ests Of every class in that great in
dustrial community.
Why Ulster Wants Homo Rule.
If 1 am asked why Ulster wants
Home Rule, my answer is that Ulster
wants Home Rule because Ulster is
Inhabited by Irishmen, whether
Orange or Green, who believe that the
attempt to govern Ireland from West
minister has been q failure, and that
whether 1t has been failure or a
success, Ireland by every reason tc
which liberty-loving men can appeal,
Is entitled to govern herself in those
matters which concern herself only
and are Irish National, as distinct
from Imperial affairs. What Is the
main, the only argument left against
Home Rule? That Ulster will not
have 1t under any circumstances.
That is nice position for the So
called constitutional and loyal party
to take up! 1t is an indefinable posi-
ton, and 1t Is position which is
impossible. We are living in the
twentieth century, under democratic
institutions, in which majority rule is
the order of the day, and for min
GRITTY like the Ulster Unionists to
take up the position that they must
either rule or ruin, Is preposterous.
Ireland will not stand it, and England
has given unmistakable evidence that
she will not tolerate it. We in Ulster
know very we'll that the opposition to
Home Rule has been driven back. as
last resource. upon the old argu-
ment Of religion. 1t has invoked the
old bad spirit of religious bigotry and
sectarian hatred which was used for
SO long to keep Professionals and Cath
olics apart in Ulster that they might
both be the easier victims to The
landlords and the exploiters of their
labor. 1t Is a most vicious move, q
wicked policy, and one which must
stand condemned in the conscience of
every freedom-loving man. What
does 1t amount to? Simply this: that
under Home Rule. the Professionals of
Ulster would have reason to fear for
their lives, their properties, and their
liberties. To any one who knows the
history of Ireland. and who is ac-
quainted. with Ulster, to state the
proposition is to condemn 1t.
Unaeeepted Challenge.
90, In the House Of Commons last week
challenged the Ulster or the English
Unionists to cite one single case in
Ireland in which Protestant had
been interfered with on account of
religion, and that challenge is still I'M
answered. Why? Because they know,
ster or in Ireland who does not know,
that there Is no such case on record.
Such thing has never happened, be-
cause the Irish Catholics are not per-
secutors. And such a thing could
never happen under Home Rule, be-
cause, even If the Catholics wanted to
prosecute the Professionals in Ireland,
/. a thing impossible even to imagine,
they would find it impossible to do so.
There is no real ground, then. for this
religious argument against Home Rule.
Z Some Of the leading English Tory
politicians, to do them justice. are
= ashamed Of It. and even disavow it.
And 80 we come to what has been de-
" scribed as listers next step, namely.
civil war. described in the choice Ian
guage Of one Of the Tory papers, as
'.Hell Let Loose in Ulster" But upon
whom ts hell to be let loose? Is it
upon the Catholics of Belfast or Of