Alma record., 1913-10-23
PAGE 7

attempting to kiss II, so / lett that
task undone.
Our drive among the Killarney
lakes in jaunting car was one of
the prettiest we have seen; think it
was only surpassed by some of the
beautiful scenery of the Scottish high
lands. The thing, however, of most
| interest to us as far as attitude of
people are concerned is the Ulster
movement. AS you know and un-
doubtedly have read, the people of
| Ulster, which is Protestant, and
whose leading center is Belfast, are
dreadfully opposed to Irish Home
Rule. The Protestants of Ireland
pay considerably over three-fourths
| of the government taxes but are
greatly outnumbered by the Roman
| Catholics, as their plea is that they
do not propose to pay the taxes of
Ireland and be governed by less
| thrifty class, and especially by Pope
rule" AS the Home Rule bill has
now twice passed the House of Com
mons and only needs to pass once
more to become law, tlthough it
|
Lords, the situation is a very grave
one. The Ulster people or anti
Home Rule people are crying for a
new election of parliament on the is
sue, and in that case they feel the
bill would not pass again. However,
Ulster has set up provisional gov
ernment which, by the way, was ac-
complished while we were in that
country. They have over one hun
dred thousand men OF the best blood
of Ireland daily drilling. SO that if
the Home Rule bill passes Ulster
will secede and their provisional
government be put into effect. In
that case there will be civil war, as
Ireland can't get along very we'll
without the support Of Ulster. The
[ troops have been drilling for some
time and the whole 100000 were re-
viewed or inspected on the Royal
Ulster Agricultural Show Grounds
at Belfast behind enclosure the day
after we were there. | met a business
man, who was a Mason, and he gave
us a couple of tickets, but we could
not change our plans to stay over.
They said it would be the sight of a
lifetime to see the solemnity and de-
termination of the occasion as we'll
as the splendidly trained volunteers. 1
read accounts of it afterwards Over five
hundred thousand men and women
have signed the Ulster covenant by
which they pledge themselves that
they are willing to give up their lives
If necessary rather than submit to
Irish Home Rule and what it means
to them. | never met a whole class
OF people who are So grimly set
about to do the right as they see it
as are these Ulster people.
think our American papers give
a wrong conception Of the Irish
problem. Before |, left America l
was very much in favor of Home
Rule, but after just seeing little of
the Irish people, comparing the class
es and reading considerably about it,
| am as strongly opposed to it. Even
leaving the Ulster situation out,
which of course can't be tossed aside
lightly, | believe Home Rule would
hinder the best progress of Ireland.
However, it remains to be seen what
will become of the grave situation.
Well. Wilson, | am getting tired
OF writing and presume you will be
equally weary before you finish read
ing this description, so | am not 60
ing to tell you a thing about Edin-
burgh, or the University, only that l
begin my work Wednesday and that
] am classified and am more than
pleased with my course. We have
now become quite golf enthusiasts
and play quite frequently; are going
for round this afternoon One of
the best public courses in Britain is
within five minutes of us and the fee
is small so that is where we do our
playing. The course is between three
and four miles long
| am anxious to hear from Alma,
about her freshman class, football,
the old students back, and the like.
Presume you feel light-hearted this
year that you do not need to bother
with the Almanan; | know / felt
free when | finished my journey as
its editor. am anxious to get it
and as much news as possible from
"Old Alma" Remember me to
"Eph," Sid" Doc" "Baldy," Oscar
and any more of the "Old boys" that
may be interested.
Fraternally yours,
L. A. THOMPSON.