The Washington herald., 1914-03-22
THE POSITION IN ULSTER.
How Both sides I'm North Ireland
Stand ON Verge of War.

The Irish Nationalists and the Liberals
are committed to the home rule Dill as
IL stands including the provision OF
separate Parliament for all Ireland But
listers opposition has been so vieorous'
the threats Of armed resistance In case
home rule Is forced on Ulster has brought
| such complete belief. that Premier AS
lquith and the Nationalist and LIBERAL
members Of the House OF Commons, who
fighting for the passage of the DILL
have decided that il might be well Tor
the peace OF the government and JUST
as well for the strength of their parties
! to make some concessions to the Ulster
feeling. hoping to avert a war.
Ulster has prepared for war. Ever
since the first passage Of the bill two
! years ago the Orangemen have been or
ganizing volunteer companies. The COM
panies meet whenever they can. after
work, on Sundays and holidays, and go
through drills. The tinjest hamlet has Its
quota of men, who will be ready to fight
they say, at moments notlce, Whlle
Belfast would probably turn out 3o.1o0
armed men II Sir Edward Carson, leader
of he Orangemen, gave the signal Tor
war.
Leaders Of the party have said that the
province can turn out 10000 armed men.
all OF whom are ready to uphold the
honor of Ulster.
The Irish home rule bill has passed the
House of Commons twice and has been
rejected twice by the House OF Lords
II the Commons passes the bill a third
time il becomes a law under the Parlla-
ment act regardless of any vote the
House OF Lords may take
The bill as passed twice before provides
for the establishment of an Irish Parlia-
ment. consisting of a Senate and House
of Commons with power to make laws
for the peace order and good govern
ment OF Ireland. The army and navy,
old age pensions, imperial AFFAIRS the
constabuIary. the customs and lew
similar duties OF government were with
held from the rule of the Irish Parlia-
ment.
Ulster. with nine counties, has opposed
the passage of the bill consistently. A
province in which the majority of the in
habitants are Protestants fears that II
will be taxed more than its proportion 10
pay for the rest of lreland's expenses, in
cludng a large allowance Tor gratt IN
Dublin. Ulster since before the battle Oh
Boyne. in 1850, has been historically op-
posed to the rest of Ireland. and lastly
there is the religious opposition
Ulster trusts Sir Edward Carson COM
pIetely. A. Bonar Law, the UniOnist
leader, is conducting Sir Edwards fight
in the House OF Commons, and he IS
backed by the strength of the Cnionists.
Ireland's members OF Parliament number
lcS, OF whom Ulster has eighteen
Premier Asquith has decided TO make
concessions to the Ulster feeling. One of
the things that decided him was the sign
ing OF listers famous Solemn League
and Covenant" to which 100000 names
were appended. This pledged the signers.
in case the Irish Parliament is establish
ed, to refuse to recognize its authority.
The amendment suggested by the LID
eral government is that Ulster be exempt
from the provisions of the home rule bill:
that Ulster send representatives to the
British Parliament as before, and that
the Irish Parliament have no power over
Ulster province. This situation is to last
six wears and then the matter OF listers
cnoice of Parliament be taken up again.
II calls for vote in each county OF
Ulster now as to whether lister wants TO
stay out of the Irish Parliament, but
there l. little question as to how Ulster
would vote.-New York Sun.