The Washington herald., 1914-03-16

century. Although they have alb
sOrbed much Of the Irish character,
including the brogUe. they have sell
dom intermarried with the Catholics
Both Sides Live I'm Past.
Both sides of Ireland live in the
past in a manner surprising to a man
from n country where the thought is
all of the present or the future. The
battle of the Boyne, where the Ulster
men lighting fer King William defeat
cd the Irish hosts of King James ii,
is but yesterday to the men of Bel
fast. And similarly the Celtic Irish
men in recounting the arguments for
home rule begin with the Norman in
vasion and its cruelties. Cromwell is
living issue: The drunken lrlshmen
in the streets of Belfast can think of
no worse insult that to yell To hell
with King William" and on the walls
in the Catholic streets of Belfast the
traveller sees scrawIed by an invading
Orange boy ITO hell with the Pope"
To the man on the spot there is no
doubt that Ulster will fight" EN-
bittered centuries promise it. When
Sir Edward Carson was ridicIfied be-
cause his followers drilled with wooden
show our real rifles and have them
confiscated?" There are plenty OF
clever machinists in Ulster and rifle
and cartridge factories could spring up
like mushrooms. The signal corps OF
the Ulster volunteer army is equipped
with wireless field telephones, and Its
dispatch riders have fast motorcycles.
There is a fund Of S5.O0O0OO already
collected to be paid to the wives and
children of the men who fall in de-
fense of the Orange flag. Hospitals
are prepared not only throughout the
North of ireland. but also in Eng
land and the South Cf France Tor the
reception of wounded.
Women Are Active.
The real spirit underlying the Ulster
movement is seen in the actions of
the women. The famous Ulster cove
nant to resist home rule was signed
by $4,000 women. Nearly $4,000 OF
these are now paying members Cf the
Ulster Women's Unionist Council At
the annual meeting of this body in
Belfast last January the activities of
the women were shown to comprise
the formation of ambulance and nurs-
ing corps, the establishment CT post
houses throughout Ulster for the dis
patch of messages by the volunteer
dispatch riders, the organization of
working parties to make bandages and
medical supplies, speaking, canvass
ing and the distribution of literature
in England and Scotland.
The rest CT Ireland is not so reused
as Ulster. yet the Celts have ever
had the reputation OF being the best
fighters il properly led. There are,
too, the Irish emigrants to he con-
sidered. A population greater than
the present number of persons in Ire
land has emigrated to the United
States. In that country they have in
creased greatly, perhaps doubled, in
numbers. They have also become
wealthy in comparison with their con-
dition in their mother country. What
would the Irishmen in America do if
Ulster should rebel against a Dublin
government? Many would go back to
fight, il is not to be doubted, and
history shows that Americans of Irish
descent will contribute heavily to sup
port an Irish cause.
England has come to a dilemma.
said Arthur ]. Balfour. formerly
premier, recently As he was once
chief secretary of Ireland his words
carry weight. He says there are only
two courses open to British statesmen
In dealing with Ireland
They may maintain the union, and
keep ireland in full political COM
munion with England and Scotland,
or give Ireland, with or without
Ulster, complete autonomy, requiring
her to manage her own finances. pay
her own bills, borrow on her own
credit, control her own rebels. settle
her own constitution. and remain or
not. just as she may desire, a self
governing colony within the limits of
the empire"