New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-28
Sir Edward Carson, Being Eng
lands Most Ambitious Poll
tiCian, Is Not Likely to
0verStep Legality.
ORANGE "ARMY" OF 1000
Not 10000, as Unionist Re
ports Say, and Not Armed
with Anything but Obsolete
Weapons-S5, 100000
Fund Non Existent.
TBy Gable 20 The Tribune.

London. Sept. IA great deal ls he
| ing written and said nowadays on Ul-
ster and the preparations of Ulster for
rebellion in case the Home Rule bill
becomes law. and from the cable dis
patches printed In the London newspa- =
pers It seems as though other coun-
| tries, and especially America. are tax
! ing the situation in a much more 'eri-
GUS light tha.. the facts really warrant.
OF course, IT falls in with the policy of
the Unionist press to magnify the news
and distort the perspective in every
possible way, but that is no reason why
observers on the outside should permit
I themselves to be deceived.
AS matter Of fact there is no rea-
son why the present situation in Ulster
should be considered in any more serl-
GUS a light than as highly interesting
comedy on a magnificent scale, with
Sir Edward Carson as leading man.
Sir Edward : at pres mt being magni-
fed by the opposition papers as a
great historic figure, leader or "A
magnificent Aght for liberty, etc, ctc..
but 1t is very doubtful whether his
torians Of the future will not show him
as a brilliant man playing the mounte-
bank for ami itious ends.
In considering Ulster and present
doings in that province II is important
TO remember a few main points. Ono
of the most important OF these IS Sir
Edward Carson's ambition. II is not
far wrong to say that he is the most
ambitious man in England to-day. An
drew Bonar Law is the utular leader
OF the Unionists but il is far from true
10 think that Mr.. Bonar Law settles
the policy Of the Unionists.
More Powerful than Bonar Law.
Sir Edward Carson Is much more
powerful man IN the party councils
than Mr.. Bonar Law. Moreover. II Sir
Edward succeeded in forcing Premier
Asquith 10 a conference. compromise
or even a general election on Home
Rule. there is nothing he could not de-
mand and receive from the Unionist
party. This in itself is sufficient TO ac-
count for the part he is now playing
when II is remembered how firmly he
is held in the grip of ambition.
But beyond that one must recall that
wear at least before Home Rule can
become law Ulster will begin to feel
the effect OF this terrible thing. and
therefore all the pangs and dire suf-
fering which Ulster seems 10 be now
undergoing are premature, 10 say the
least. and cannot help having an APP
pearance OF theatricalty under which
II is difficult 10 repress smile.
Sir Edward the other day endeavored
TO draw a parallel between his Ulster
movement and the American Revolu-
ton. but the colonies actually suffered
the effects Of tyranny for long and
weary period before the Revolution be
gan. while Ulster is-and Sir Edward
Carson must admit tin the most
peaceful and prosperous period OF its
existence.
Again, one must stop 10 consider the
real size Of the Ulster army" There
is talk on all sides Of 10000 or $4,000
or even 10000 men, but last spring.
before Parliament adjourned. there was
much talk OF a shipment OF arms into
Ulster. Unionist papers made such
howl on the subject that It seemed as
though there was really something
doing. The Tribune made a special in
vestigation. considering the advisa-
bility Of sending special commits
sioner to Ulster, but It turned out that
the alleged shipments OF rifles consisted
OF obsolete weapons, useless even for
taruet practice and intended only to
bluff tho government, and all the time
the government was kept fully in
formed by Scotland Yard. The ship
ments soon ceased.
Government Ready for Action.
The government is now fully in pos
session of all the facts concerning the
real situation in Ulster. Scotland Yard
has thoroughly investigated the situa-
tion and papers are drawn ready 10
prefer charges against Sir Edward
Carson should real necessity for such
step arise.
But before considering whether the
necessity has arisen the government
must see a few real facts. For exam
ple. all of the $1,000 volunteers yet
seen in the actual flesh aggregate per-
hans 1000, while in order for eebel-
lion in Ulster to be successful the
whole British army must first mutiny
and refuse TO obey orders.
Furthermore, no one knows better
than Sir Edward Carson that In case
of actual rebellion all personal ambi-
tion would be at an end, unless, OF
course. he can succeed in establishing
a separate kingdom Of Ulster. for no
Government would dare promote him
after his actually taking arms against
the empire. The fact is no one has
Iess desire than Sir Edward carson TO
t>,f.b ITlater as a separate king