Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-10-11
Fearful of Civil War, Compro-
mise Only Hope of
Tories.
Protestants Disguised With Cos
pei of Sectarian and Racial
Hate.
LIBERALS AGAINST ELECTION

Despite the dire threats of Sir
Edward Carson and his Ulster
Orange following, the Government
stands firm and each day makes
more certain that Ireland's long
struggle for home rule will soon be
crowned with success. This opinion
is based on the following from Hon.
T. p. O'Connor, NJ. p, the Irish
Nationalist leader in England:
must repeat that in spite of the
hullabaloo of the Orangemen and
the Loreburn letter and innumerable
Tory appeals for a conference, inter
spersed with abuse of Asquith and
Redmond, the Irish situation re-
mains exactly the same with II
anything a considerable advance in
home rule prospects. 1t becomes
more evident every day that the
English Tories are greatly fright
-ened by Carson's open appeal for
civi, war. and are looking eagerly
for any nieons of escape. Their
present plan istJ invite confer
ence on the basis that four Ulster
counties should be given the option
by plebiscite to exclude the1hselves
from the control of the Dublin par
Lament. Although he has tried
practically to withdraw from such q
proposal, Carson evidently has been
forced to agree to it. But this pro-
posal, believe, is quite imprac-
ticable, involving as it does a sur
render of the liberties of the Cath
olic minority to the fierce religious
tyranny OF the Ulster Orangemen
on the one side and being equally
Objectionable to the southern Prot
estant minority, as leaving them
without the support of their north
ern co-religionists.
Meantime sGarson's bullying blus-'
ter is hardening more and more
Liberal opinion in England and
Scotland, and already resolutions
are being carried at Liberal meet
ings calling on the Government to
stand firm and resist conference
and other such proposals. This is
also, | believe, the attitude of the
Ministers, but it is accompanied by
Asquith's as we'll as Redmond's
undertaking all through to consider
any reasonable amendment COM
patible with the principle of the
home rule bill and the maintenance
of the indivisible unity of Ireland.
My impression is that no confer
ence is likely at the present moment,
but that as the final moment APP
proaches, with the certainty of the
home rule bill passing, the Tories
will make a further attempt on
more rational basis to settle the
question. Meantime every day
shows bigger fissures in the Tory
ranks. Lord Staldwyns, twice Chan
cellor of the Exchequer and once
leader of the Tories in the House Of
Commons, separates himself entirely
from the demand to exclude Ulster
and substitute demand for another
general election, proposal which
Las not the least chance of accept
ance by the Ministry. Such a pro-
posal would practically mean re-
versal of the Parliament act and
a restoration of omnipotence to the
House of Lords. Any such proposal
is so impossible to all Liberal opin-
ion that even a Liberal Ministry
which accepted II would be wrecked
by it's own followers.
Another hopeful sign of the
breakup of Carson's campaign is
the growing uneasiness of the mer-
camille community of Belfast, espe-
cially among bankers, who look
with undisguised terror on the
financial embarrassment, If not
ruin, which might follow disturb
ances in Belfast and the growing
disgust among all reasonable
Protestants and Ulster Liberals with
Carson's gospel of sectarian and
racial hate:
1t is evident also that in spite Of
every exertion through careful or
ganization, abundant money and
cruel boycotting, the ranks of Car
sons parade soldiers are small pro-
portionately to the whole popula-
tion.