The Irish standard., 1914-04-18

THE IRISH
the negative. The government had
permitted to grow up in it's midst in
fluential, powerful clicks, enjoying the
patronage and confidence of the gov
eminent. These parties threaten the
strength Of the government itself and
to save the integrity of the Empire
the Premier has allied himself with
the Irish party in order to maintain a
working majority and the British
Parliament The Socialists, the Demo-
Gratis, and the Liberals are against the
Tories. The government comes to the
side of those who are own strongest,
comes bearing gifts, comes as was
said of a former Tory, that he came
with bride in his pocket and lie ON
his lips. England does not offer indie
pendence. That is considered impos.
sible. Ireland is not given a chance
to work out her own economic. politi-
cal, commercial, and moral destiny.
Home Rule is not an attempt to end
the brutality Of English rule. Expedi-
ency requires that in crisis some
thing should be done. England is do
ing this. It is not the intention of
Great Britain that an Irish man shall
feel free upon Irish soil. That Irish
nationality shall restore to ireland her
glory and her traditions. Ulster is
not geographical location. It repre-.
sents no nationality, it has no national
heritage. Without natural or political
boundaries, Ulster is state of mind,
an artificial social and political crea-
ton. parasite upon the body polite
of Ireland. The counties that go to
make up the province of Ulster are not
political entities. The plantation of
Ulster" occurred nearly three cen.
turtles ago, when English and Scotch
were brought to Ulster and granted
special privileges by the government.
Confiscated lands were given to these
alien bigots representing the British
government and its policies in Ireland.
1t is the descendants of these aliens
who cry bigotry and who say Ulster
will fight. After shedding the blood
of those who were members of the one
Holy and True Church and hunting
down their priests like dogs the W.
sterites claim that Home Rule means
Rome Rule. They have fears that the
Catholics might inaugurate the hor-
rible practices of the Ulster Protest
ants. The Liberal party, in it's en-
deavor to quiet the fears of Ulster,
have added a special clause to the bill
which provides that the Irish Parlia-
ment shall not make any law so as,
either directly or indirectly, to estab-
fish or endow any religion or prohibit
its free exercise, or give preference
or advantage, disability or disadvan-
tage, to any religious belief or status,
or make any religious belief or cere-
mony a condition of the validity of
marriage. Any law in contravention
of this limitation to be void.
The Professionals of Ulster do not be.
lleve that these guarantees are of any
consequence, but the trouble comes
from another source. The Orange as.
cendancy is not concerned with either
Catholicity or Professionalism in Ulster.
1t is concerned with the old system of
domination, privilege, and plumber I'm.
der which it has prospered. Ascend
ancy in England and Ireland is making
the fight of its life. The world has
moved since Great Britain's policy of
plumber and foronties was first inaug1.
rated. The poor have grown poorer
while the rich have grown richer. OF
the poor in the British Isle it may be
said, Eye build We build, but We enter
not in"
Home Rule is the pivot upon which
the situation in England will turn,
Henceforward England must, reckon
with those she has spurned. The
Aristocratic House of Lords, the Or.
ange Ascendancy, and the Chocolate
Soldiers of the British Army are beat.
ing the Ulster drum, all hoping that
the noise of Ulster rebellion and bluffs
may save to them and for them the old
system of spoilation, and they are do
ing this in the name of religion, which
their acts, lives and positions deny.