Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-12-13
Premier Asquith's Last Warm
Has Had a Marked
Effect.
Earl Derby Calls Halt On Ulster
Threats and Talk of
BOnar Law.
SELBORNE FOLLOWS HIS LEAD

London Punch now hits off in
! characteristic fashion the humorous
anomalies of the Ulster situation.
A hapless German visiting London
is portrayed gazing with astonish-
ment at billboard on which are
displayed posters announcing the
existence of the "Army of Ulster"
the Irish Nationalist army" the
militant suffragette "army," and
the various other armed forces that
are being levied in these islands.
''Mein Gott!" exclaims the, German.
'All these armies, and Germany has
only one!" "
In regard to the possibilities of
armed resistance to home rule by
Ulster there has always been an
element Of disbelief, more or less
politely expressed, in the possibility
of the Ulster threats of organized
armed resistance being actually car
ried out, but at the same time there
has always been a fear that the
incendiary agitation led by Sir Ed
ward Carson might have deplorable
results. Premier Asquith's warning,
however, had a marked effect and
the Unionist leaders to whom he
referred particularly are now hur-
riedly retreating from the ground
they took up.
''The doctrine that soldiers or
police officers or men," said Asquith,
care to discriminate at will between
their orders is undermining to gov
eminent. We have no doubts as to
the duty and power of the State to
enforce obedience to the law"
The Earl of Derby was the first
Unionist to call, a halt to the ex-
tremists of his party. Speaking on
Monday, he asserted that Asquith
was right and said that there must
be no attempt to drag in the army
to overawe Parliament. Sir Edward
Carson. curiously enough, va
next to recede from the position
previously occupied. ''It is foul
lie," he remarked, ito say that the
Ulster Unionists are trying to
tamper with the British army. 1t
would be bad day for the country
II the army, under any circum-
stances, were to refuse to obey law
full orders. Nobody would blame the
army for shooting upon Ulstermen."
In order to understand this new
development, it must be remem-
bered what position Lord Derby
holds in English politics. He is a
great landlord, a more than usually
able representative, a Peer, and
good business man, and is looked
upon as the embodiment of that
sound common sense which made the
late Duke of Devonshire (who pos
sessed abilities of far lower order
than Lord Derby a power in the
councils of the nation. 1t is signifi-
cant that Lord Derby, who a year or
two ago vetoed tariff reform policy
and recently blocked the Unionist
plan for demanding the refusal of
the royal assent to home rule, has
now prevented his party from ap-
pealing to the army against the
Government. Lord Selborne fol-
lowed Lord Derby's lead, saying that
he would never hear at the time of
this crisis or any other crisis the
suggestion that IT could be the duty
OF the army to refuse to obey orders.
The duty Of soldier, were he off
Ger or private, was obedience to law
ful command"
To students OF English politics IL
Is interesting to mark this new
development. II not only means
sounder appreciation of the political
situation as concerned with home
rule and listers opposition; II also
means that a man has arisen who Is
determined to rid the Unionist party
OF the incubus under which II has
been staggering for years. In the
latter days of Arthur Balfour's lead
ership the power behind the throne
was ]. L. Garvin. a journalist of en-
gaging personality. From his study
at Hampstead and his editorial
chair in Fleet street Garvin prac-
tically dictated the Unionist policy.
Bonar Law has been as wax in his
hands.
What Garvin said in the Pail Mall
Gazette and the Observer one day
the Unionist leaders echoed in their
speeches the next He pulled the
strings which set the puppets dane
Ing. In various issues Of the Pail
Mall Gazette he urged action.
which undoubtedly suggested the re-
fus9l by officers and men OF the
British army TO "coerce" Ulster. IL
was at this critical moment that
Lord Derby stepped into the arena.
We've no politics in the army"
he said, ''and. right or wrong. we've
got TO do what we're told"
Thus the issue lies between the
Earl and the journalist. The pos
sible result was forecasted by
Asquith when he said at Leeds that
he knew his fellow-countrymen bet
ter than Sir Edward Carson. Like
Sid Edward. Garvin Is an Irishman,
while Lord Derby, like Asquith. is