, 1913-11-01
ULSTER.

liz lJu SIttNdiloI Lho A|AA0 49,
development in the last few days, aud we
are now rapidly approaching the crisis long
foreseen. Hitherto there has been little
excuse for those who questioned the fiXlty
of listers purpose to-day there IS none.
Indeed, the qnestioners are already sllenced,
or have taken to admitting her purpose while
questioning her ability to fulfill 1t. After
the events of the last Weekend there should
be an end Of all tins buryins Of heads IN the
sand: the purpose OF Ulster ana the measure
of her ability are alike visible to all but the
~wiljfully blind. The common allegation that
Ulster was "blufting" never had much touhd-
alton to excuse it. 70 'bluff" is to pretend
to hold cards that one has not got: what Vi
ster has now done-lf the metaphor may be
pursued-is to lay all her cards on the table.
We entirely commend her frankness, for the
crisis ia our history IS far too serious tot SELF
deception. The country has now o night to
know what action the Government propose
to take. We mny assume that they are be-
plnning to realize the gravity Of the Crisis,
though there is no reason to suppose that
che sudden aud rather tA~elodrnmatlc pll-
grimuge Of six Ministers TO Arr"n IS directly
caused by the attitude Of Ulster. We may
all accept the statement, which is belnS
busiIy circulated by Liberal newspapers, that
the prime object Of the Radical caucus ID a
ducal castle was TO put the finishing touches
10 the promised Land Campalgns while we
are also entitled to add that this Land Cam
paipn is probably designed as much as any
thing else to divert the public attention from
Ireland. Meanwhile the attitude OF the
M;nist erialist Press towards Ireland is some
what discouraging. The preparations OF
Ulster are still dismissed, III quarters where
better information might be expected, as
mere thentriculs; and supporters OF the BIZ
NAV be seen clinging, like drowning men to
strawe. to alleged deficiencies III organlza-
ton. We are told that some early and abyl-
ously ignorant estimate placed the numbers
he Volunteer Force at q quarter OF a NIL
lion. whereas the actual numbers are II halt,
n third. or n quarter of that figure; that the
rifles in Ulster arc obsolete, OF that IT they
nre servicable there are no cartridges that
the organization Of the Provisional Post Or
fee is incomplete that no arrangements have
been made for the representation OF the MI
nority All such arguments are mere ire
leyance, for they are based on an irresponsl-
Bile failure to recognize the essence OF the
n~ositi0n No man in his senses can fail to
admit that if it comes to civil war, the re-
sources of the British Empire are sufficient
10 crush rebellion in four Irish countries. Ii
British craftsmanship can find no other solu-
ton of the Irish problem, the blow to our
prestige will be equally great if the rebellion
of Ulster lasts for u month or "a year; and II
the Provisional Government comes into beng,
our confession Of political bankruptcy Will
not be one whit less complete if four counties,
with little administrative resources and no
experience of self government, fail to pro-
duco efficient machinery at a moments no
lice. These nice calculations on the part Of
Ministerialists are sheer waste OF time. The
fact that the country hos to face IS simply
that Ulster is prepared to resist However
skjlfully organized her resistance may be, or
however lacking in skilful organization, that
resistance can be quelled by force, in spite
Of the violence which would thereby be done
10 the conscience of many military officers.
We are confident, however, that the public
opinion of this country will not acqulesce in
the application OF force, and that, If force
were applied, The Government responsible
for its application would receive short shrift
at the hands of the electors. II the orga-
~nization of Ulster only serves to bring home,
to the Government the validity of the old
truth that force is no remedy, Sir Edward
Carson will be justified. We cannot believe
that it will fail to do SO; and it Is this belief
that hus induced us to attach more signiti-