Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-04-04
Premier Asquith Resigns From
the Commons and Situation
Changes.
Military Defiance of Parliament
Puts Tories in Bad
Hole.
ULSTER HAS Been CHECKMATED

Cabling from London, Hon. T. P.
lO'Connor says that they knew for
the first time what lay behind Sir
Edward Carson's campaign and
opera bouffe army in Ulster. This
was merely the facade of the build
ing. There lay behind it a much
more serious fabric of opposition to
home rule, namely carefully pre-
pared mutiny in the army, which by
paralyzing the Government would
have made it impossible to take any
action against Carson's army, and
thus have left him master of the
situation. This discovery reused
every deep rooted and historical
feeling among middle class Liberals
and working people. At once all
difference between middle class Lib
eralism and the Labor representa-
tives disappeared, and it became
certain that when the issue of the
army against the Parliament, and of
the army against the people, was
placed before the nation, Liberalism
and Labor would march together to
crushing victory and entrench the
Liberal Ministry in power for five
years more. These feelings ex-
pressed themselves with unexampled
frankness in the House of Commons,
Especially as the first days debate
was given over to Labor leaders, the
Government sitting silent and watch
lful.
However, the situation remains in
essence the same. Numerous
blunders have been committed by
servants of the Government, but
this gigantic issue of the army
lagainst Parliament stands out
lclearly and II is impossible that the
Tories should accept battle upon 1t.
All these events have enormously
helped home rule in every direction.
Home rule now is mixed up with the
much wider issue of English liberty
and in fighting for home rule for
Ireland the Liberals now are fighting
the vaster question of home rule for
England. But secondly, these events
have burst up Carson's Ulster
bubble. Carson's movement de-
pended on the success of the mutiny
in the English army and that mutiny
is practically broken and broken
with silent relief even of the Tories.
who shrank back from the specter
of the army being repudiated by the
people and their property being
robbed of the immense protection of
respect for the law. Carson's vol
unteers cease after this to produce
any effect but universal laughter
among the Liberals and serious ap-
prehensions among the Tories.
All this tends to create more
rational atmosphere and the settle
lment of home rule by consent be-
comes more assured. 1t is also an
other splendid result of these events
that the Ministry will find II impos-
sible to grant one single concession
more to the Ulstermen, and thus
the Irish party is saved from being
asked to threaten its existence as a
party by requesting further conces-
sions. II looks now as II the home
rule bill will pass on the terms of
the Government and the Irish party.
The mutinous Tory officers did not
look for such results from their
terminal conspiracy. but that is
what they have done.
Tuesday the House of Commons
started the debate on the home rule
| bill. which was expected to occupy
three days. The absence of Premier
Asquith, who has resigned from the
House of Commons and is now Sec
retary of War, Disconnected the
r Unionists, who complained bitterly
The first act of Premier Asqulth
, In his new capacity as Secretary oi
War was to clear up the mystery
surrounding the instructions given
by the War Office to Gen. Sir Arthur
Paget, Commander-in-Chief In Ire.
land. Sir Arthur was summoned tc
z London to give his chief a persona
! account of the orders he had re
ceived and issued. and as a result
OF the conference Reginald McKenna
4 the Home Secretary. who Is acting al
leader Of the House, was able to in
!, form the Commons on Wednesda,
! that: "The only question Gen. Page
put or intended to put to the com
manding officers In Ireland wal
whether they we're ready TO pu
their duty before any other consid
erations. II was not his intention
that this or any such question shouls
be put hy the general officers Il
|, their subordinates. Gen. Paget In
q formed the general officers of tn
promise given by the Secretary o
V War to officers whose homes wer
|, In Ulster 10 permit them 10 with
q draw temporarily from their reg
u iments in the event of operation
ii becoming necessary In Ulster. an
8 he requested the general officers I
9 find out Immediately the number o
s officers who would withdraw on thi
" account. The Irish Commander-m
" Chief was asked II any officer VIII
Is could not claim this exemptio
70 would be allowed TO resign. and n
piled that the result OF any refusa