Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-06-20
Introduces a MOmentOus Factor
Into the Whole Irish
situation.
Belfast Has Begun to Feel the
Severe Pressure of Present
Uncertainty.
FINAL CONDITIONS IMPOSE PEACE

We have had a week of sleepy
tranquility in the House of Com
mons and scarcely a mention, ex-
cept incidentally, of the Irish ques-
tion, but the Irish question still
haunts eyerybody's thoughts and
every one watches with greatest
scrutiny every speech or incident
which may seem to forecast the
uncertain future, says Hon. T. P.
O'Connor in his weekly cablegram.
The outstanding factor of the week
Is Redmond's open approval of the
Nationalist volunteer movement.
Everybody recognizes that this in
PRODUCES momentous new factor
into the whole situation. The argu-
ment that refusal of home rule in
volved dangers quite as real to peace
in Ireland as that threatened by the
Ulster Orangemen now is realized
by English opinion, which was
rather inclined to accept the view
hammered in by the Tories that. be-
| cause Southern Ireland presented
such contrast in its tranquility to
Northern effervescence, home rule
| mad ceased to be as passionately
| demanded as ever. The National
volunteers produced further effect
| by proving to the Orangemen that
they will not, If they begin attacks
on Ulster Catholics, have to con-
| front unarmed and unorganized
victims, as in the riots of two years
ago.
The Tories also are brought face
to face with some of the inevitable
consequences that follow Carson's
appeal to rifles. BY curious and ex-
pected contradiction the Tories of
England already are beginning to
demand the suppression of the Ma
tional volunteers. forgetful of their
patronage of the similar movement
by the Orange volunteers. A further
factor which helps towards settle
ment of the Irish question, by pro-
ducing a reaction against Carsonism,
is the continued ferocity of the suf-
| fragists, which now presents to the
English public the enormous growth
in lawlessness which Carsonism in
wolves. A further indication of this
disastrous change in the old Eng
ish attitude of law-abidingness was
| given during the debate on the new
insurance act for the unemployed
by the open threat of labor leaders
that when a slump followed the
present gigantic trade boom the
workingmen without employment
and without food would not accept
conditions with the same resigna-
| tion as in the past, and would fol-
low the example of Carson's Orange
men.
| Thus though Carson's speeches in
| Ulster and Bonar Laws last speech
In Scotland breathe the same old
party fury, and though the die-hards
are at present in the ascendency in
the Tory party, shrewd observers
| persist In believing that the whole
struggle will end in some settlement
in the absence of firm leadership
among the Tories, Bonar Law being
much discredited. 1t is still be-
lieved that Carson would welcome a
solution, but finds his difficulty in
the greater violence OF his own fol-
lowers. There are rumors OF dis
sensions in the Orange forces. Some
extremists already are beginning to
suspect that Carson may agree to
some settlement they detest, but
/ Otnti iOiNtS rum ullltTenl QlItC-
tion make Carson's position more
difficult. Business Belfast at last is
beginning to feel the severe pres
sure of this uncertainty, and this is
accentuated by the great Interrupt
tion of business relations with
Southern Ireland. II is announced
in the London Tory organ that re-
Gently five linen merchants of Bel
fast have failed.
II is difficult TO forecast what
precise form settlement finally win
take. IL may be peace, II may be
rupture. On one hand the die-hards
may get the House Of Lords TO re-
ject the amending bill In the hope OF
provoking rebellion in Ulster and
thereby forcing the Government TO
an immediate general election, and
Tory organizers certainly are pre-
pairing for an election in July. I re-
main convinced that the amending
bill will be passed with Carsonite
amendments in the House of Lords;
that there viii be haggling for some
weeks and that ultimately the uni
versal feeling in favor OF settlement
will bring the party leaders into
conference, including perhaps Red
mond and Carson, and that scheme
will be hammered out which at once
Will save the face OF Ulster and
guarantee liberty aud unity to Ire
land.
But violent speeches and some
violent scenes may occur between
this moment and the ultimate hour.
These things will be exaggerated.
but the supreme and final conditions
impose final peace.