The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-28
H O NJ E r u L E
The Situation.

What can the Tory party oppose to
the offer Of settlement? Public
opinion in the country is decided in
favour Of the grant of Home Rule to
Ireland. There is no sign that gen.
eral election would help the party
that helps the Lords. England to.
day is more democratic than ever it
was, and is intent on getting Ireland
out of the way SO as to prepare
smooth path for British social and
Industrial reform. Until Home Rule
is passed, general election would
result in overwhelming defeat of the
Tories, who have no policy to offer
the electorate. And unless Home
Rule is passed quietly, whether with
or without agreement matters not, a
general election will destroy the Tory
party. For the people of Great Britain
will hold that party guilty of encourag-
ing disorder in Ulster Should such
disorder take place, before or after
the passing of the Bill, and result in
bloodshed, the blood would be on the
heads of the Tories who have trifled
with sedition, preached civil war, held
law up to contempt, and encouraged
men to arm for resistance against the
police and the troops who may have
to be called in to help the police.
Great Britain would demand a stern
account from the politicians, and also
from the lords and the lawyers, whose
wild words are responsible for what
ever blood may be shed in Ulster.
This the Tories know; and they would
gladly find means of escape. But
how can they, except by conceding
a settlement on such lines as Mr..
Asquith may offer? 1t is all very we'll
to talk and threaten up to the elev-
enth hour. But at the eleventh hour
they will have to save their face, if
they can; they are sure to save their
skins. They, the leaders, will take
care not to go to Ulster to fight in
any street rows. They will stop at
home. And at home they will hear
how angry the British public will be,
should blood flow in the lanes of
Ulster or in the streets of Belfast.
They will see what little sympathy
they get from public opinion here.
They will foresee how that public
opinion will punish them at the polls
in 1915. And they will regret, when
it is too late, that they ever encour-
aged the Orangemen to take up arms
and threaten resistance to the law.
With these things in mind, they will
see the wisdom of accepting Mr.. AS
quith's proposals, if only that they
may save their own face and preserve
their party from extinction. They
have played their game. They have lost.
Mr.. Asquith has won. And it is to
his credit, that, while winning, he
makes every effort to render defeat
less unpalatable to his opponents. In
him the British democracy has re-
posed calm, confident trust. 1t felt
and feels sure that he would not,
will not, betray England by playing
false to Ireland. 1t has faith in him,
in his word, in his sense of justice
1t believes he will carry Home Rule
for Ireland. And then will come
Home Rule for England, with the
longed-for chance of the people going
ahead with the work of social re-
forms. And that inspiring vision is
one of the main forces behind the
victory soon to be won by Mr.. AS
quith. Home Rule for Ireland is the
first step towards Home Rule for
England And that is why the Eng
lish Tories hate Irish Home Rule.