The Irish standard., 1912-02-03
TO OPPOSE BELFAST
NATIONAL MEETING
Orangemen Indignant at Announce
ment of Nationalist Meeting
in Belfast, Feb. s.
Will Try to Frustrate Plan to Have
Churchill, Redmond and Devlin
Invade Unionist Centre.
Likely to Result in Demonstration
of Orange Rowdyism Around
Ulster Hall.

On Tuesday (Jan. 16), the Standing
Committee of the Ulster Unionist
Council passed with acclamation a
resolution expressing the determine
tion of that body to take steps to pre-
vent the holding of the meeting in the
Ulster Hall, Belfast, announced to be
addressed by Mr.. Winston Churchill,
Mr.. John Redmond and Mr.. Devlin.
The composition of the gathering by
which this resolution, suggestive Of Il
decree of the Provisional Government
which Sir Edward Carson proposes to
form, was passed is interesting, says
the Weekly Freeman, Dublin. The
Marquis of Londonderry was in the
chair. Supporting him were such
stout loyalists as Lord Dunleath. the
Right Hon. Thomas Sinclair, D. L.;
the Right Hon. John Young, d. L.; Mr..
w. H. Lyons, D. L.; Mr.. Hugh Barrie,
M. p; the brothers Craig, and quite
large number of persons who hold the
Commission of the Peace. From this
loyal assemblage issues the decision
worth quoting in full-that 'The
Standing Committee of the Ulster Un-
ionist Council observes with astonish-
ment the deliberate challenge thrown
; down by Mr.. Winston Churchill. Mr..
John Redmond, Mr.. Joseph Devlin,
and Lord Pirrie in announcing their
/ intention to hold a Home Rule meet
ing in the center of the loyal city Of
Belfast, and resolves to take steps to
prevent it being heidi The "Provi-
sional Government" backed by an
armed mob in the streets of Belfast,
could not be more naughty than is the
Standing Committee of the Ulster
Unionist Council. The meeting to be
addressed by Mr. Churchill is "pro
claimed by Lord Londonderry and his
friends with as much formality as
would attach to an order from Dub
lin Castle when the Marquis of Lon
donderry was Lord Lieutenant.
Having regard to the terms Of the
resolution, there can be no doubt as
to the manner in which this decree is
to be executed. Steps are to be taken
to prevent the holding of a perfectly
peaceable meeting, to be addressed by
the First Lord of the Admiralty. A
Belfast newspaper is candid enough
to admit that the steps mean that a
counter demonstration will be held in
and around the Ulster Hall on the
night of the meeting which is to be
addressed by Messrs. Churchill, Red
mond and Devln. In other words, the
right of free speech is to be Suppress
ed by brute force at the instigation Of
the Marquis Of Londonderry, several
deputy -lieutenants and justices Of the
peace, and retired military officers.
The evangel Of Sir Edward Carson is
bearing fruit. Even before the Home
Rule bill is introduced the Orange mob
in Belfast is inclined to give a taste
of it's quality to the electors of Great
Britain.
Nationalists will welcome this mani
festation of the real spirit Of the 10y
alists of Ulster. Mr.. Mackinnon
Wood, Financial Secretary of the
| Treasury, dwelt on Tuesday on the
| conception Of liberty Indicated by the
! resolution of the Ulster Unionist
| Council. He had not all the facts be-
| fore him. The meeting to be address,
ed by Mr.. Churchill has not been
summoned by Nationalsts. 1t has
been organized by the Liberals Of Bel
fast. Among their guests are Messrs.
Redmond and Devlin. The latter have
frequently addressed meetings in the
same hall without any disturbance of
! the public peace. The pretence that
Mr.. Churchill could, without molesta-
ton, speak in the Ulster Hall if he had
not the company Of Messrs. Redmond
/ and Devlin can no longer be sustain
ed. The Orangemen of Belfast are
/ ''out" against the First Lord of the
Admiralty. Mr.. Churchill is to be
taught that the men of the Queens
Island, who are to be goaded into OUT
rage against the chief of their indus
try, have not forgotten the Jingle
/ which is the watchword of the Ulster
rs