New-York tribune., 1913-06-15

because Sir Edward Carson stands
where he now does in relation to Ulster
] that he is one Of the central influences
in the public life of to-day; and as
such | ask you to consider him.
/ He is a Covenanter. We all know
what spiritual and religious fervor
that name implies in history. The
Scotch Covenanter was being apart
| So is his successor in Ulster; for very
different reasons. The signing of the
( Ulster Covenant against Home Rule
last September marks the dividing Of
the ways. II felt ii to be the supreme
moment Of my own life" says Sir Ed
ward Carson, and lie tells us he has
never for one moment had it out Of his
mind; nor the copy he signed for one
moment out of his possession. There
is the Covenant" and he holds il up TO
the great audience amid loud ana long
cheers. Let US listen TO him as he
reads IT:
we hereby pledge ourselves in sol
cmn Covenant, throughout this our
time of threatened calamity. to stand
by one another in defending for our
selves and our children our cherished
possession Of equal citizenship in the
United Kingdom. in using all means
which may he found necessary to do
feat the present conspiracy To set mp a
Home Rule Parliament in Ireland;
and in the event of such a Parliament
being forced upon US. we further
solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves
to refuse 10 recognize their authority.
in sure confidence that God will defend
the right"
4 solemn pledge indeed. Half
million Of men signed it, OF whom
says Sir Edward, not one has ever
withdrawn his signature IL was
memorable act Ii may mean Civil
War. should this present Government
of Great Britain. without a shadow Of
q mandate or sanction from the people
Of Great Britain, attempt TO force
Ulster into vassslage TO n Dublin Par
lament. Ever since the Ulstermen
signed the Covenant they have been
preparing for that They are armins
and drilling-there is no secret about
il. What can that mean if not the
possibility Of Civil War? Sir Edward.
lawyer as he is admits it, Said Wen
dell Phillips in Boston, April y, 1851,
speaking for the first time in his anti
slavery life under the Stars ana
Stripes:
civil war is momentous evil II
needs the soundest. most solemn just-
fication."
Whose justification do YOU imagine
Sir Edward Carson pleads? What
great name does he put in the forefront
of this battle Hampden. Cromwell
Algernop Sidney? No, no one Of the
great champions Of English liberty.
The name he chooses is Lincoln's
81 do not think ! could put our moral
right better than it was put by Presi-
dent Lincoln. In his first Inaugural
Address when he was elected TO the
Presidency Of the United States he
said:
".If by the mere force Of numbers
ma iorit should deprive a minority cf
any clearly written constitutional
right. IT might in a moral point Of view
iustify revolution 1t certainly would
have such right were the question
vital one.
The right which Ulster claims IS the
constitutional right TO remain as she IS
now. under the Imperial Government
and Parliament and under their con-
trol. She wants no revolution DO
change. She makes no new demand
She asks for no new privilege. she
nleads for the immemorial right of
every part Of the United Kingdom TO
the protection Of the existing Govern
ment and existing Constitution ana eN-
listing laws That is what she is ready
IN f,eht for if she must And she looks
across the Atlantic and sees the great
egure OF Lincoln and appeals 10 him
as the authority for her moral right 10
eecure the blessings Of liberty TO hcr
people and their posterity.
There can be no compromise, says
Sir Edward Carson. There is no mld-
die term between tyranny and free
dom. Nor is there. The North OF ire
land Is the treasure house of Ireland.
II IS 10 be tayed by the paupers or lre-
land. II is a Protestant stronghold. IL
Is 10 be ruled by Roman Catholics. IL
is a community of .impassioned loyal
ists II is to be ruled by men VINO
have proclaimed over and over again,
and proved over and over again, their
hatred II the Union. of the Crown and
Of England.
No doubt the Covenant Is a challenge
TO the Government. But il is chai-
lenge they do not take up; dare not
take up, says Sir Edward. 1t was
signed by great lawyers; by the great
est of all the judges, the late Lord
Macnaghten; by soldiers in uniform,
, by policemen In uniform, by civil SER
wants in the pay Of the Government;
not one OF whom have they thought 1t
prudent to molest. Yet:
I'VE have never stopped day or night
making such possible preparations as
will enable us firmly. determinedly' ana
with success. to carry out the Cove
nant into which we have entered.
I ,o,,o Sir Edward. but