Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-06
CLEARING The
AIR IN ENGLAND
over THE HOME
RULE DISPUTE

London, April 5.-The week closed
with two important political events,
both Of which tended to clear the air
ard show where the two great par
ties stand today on the Home Rule
issue.
The prime minister. Mr.. Asquith,
opened his campaign for reelection
with a speech at the village of Lady
bank, Scotland, while many thousands
of Unionists of London and the prov
inces assembled in Hyde Park for a
demonstration of protest against any
use of the army and navy to force
the Home Rule bill on the Ulster COW
enanters.
Both Premier Asquith's speech and
in the speeches of the Unionist lead
ers were expressions of desire for a
compromise and an agreement, but,
while the Hyde Park speakers de-
manded the submission of Home Rule
to a direct vote of the people, the
prime minister expressly denied any
such possibility.
The army will hear nothing of poll
tics from me, and l shall expect in re-
turn to hear nothing of politics from
the Army" was his summary of the
issue which had brought him to his
new office of secretary of war.
Approves Federation Plan
The Premier recommended his tenn
porary exclusion plan as having 1.-THE
great merit of avoiding coercion and
expressed his belief in the eventual
unity of all the Irish factions.
The Premier gave the idea of a Fed
eral scheme for the British Isles his
blessing. He said that the same pro-
cess must be applied with the neces-
sary variations and without undue de-
lay to othey parts of the United King
DOM
Such a reconstruction of the consti-
tutional organization would, he said
lead to greater efficiency in the con-
duct of both local and imperial inter
ests and the quickened patriotism of
every part would stimulate the larg-
er patriotism of the whole.
The prime minister will return to
London Immediately to resume the
party leadership and will leave the
campaigning to lesser lights, unless
the Unionists decide 10 nominate
candidate to oppose him, which now
seems improbable.
Enormous Crowd in Hyde Park
The Hyde Park meeting was notable
for the great display of Union Jacks
which were carried by hundreds of
demonstrators. When the meeting was
proposed few days ago, the cooler
heads discouraged it, thinking that it
might furnish provocation for rioting.
Political passions, however, subsidized
so far during the week that the meet
ing passed with perfect quiet, except
for a rival demonstration and parade
under the auspices Of the militant
Suffragists, which proved disorderly
and resulted in several arrests.
The rally of Unionists brought an
enormous concourse to Hyde Park.
Twenty-Five professions, with bands
playing and banners flying, converged
on the central open square at London
from as many different localities, and
modified around IA platforms. All the
meetings were addressed by peers ind
members of Parliament.
Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster Unionist
leader; Austin Chamberlain, Walter
Long and such prominent Unionist peers
as yiscount Minor the Earl of Selborue
and Lord Londonderry. as well as Lord
Robert Cecil and Lord Charles Beresford
were among the speakers.
An attractive contingent in the process
sion was formed by a body of 5000 men,,
mostly from the Stock Exchange. Lloyds
and other city institutions. which form
ed upon the Thames embankment, then
marched to the park and there took a
lively part in singing the hymns 80 God.
Our Help in Ages Past" and God Save
the King" which opened the proceedings.
Carson Leads in Cheering
Arthur Balfour. ex-premier. who occu-
pied the center platform, moved reso-
luton protesting against the use of the
army and navy against Ulster and de-
manding an immediate general election
on home rule.
He declared the. government was on
the edge Of the commission of a great
national crime, and said that if the
crime was committed it would be fol-
lowed by one of the greatest national
disasters.
When bugles announced the time for
taking a vote on the resolution Sir
Edward Carson sprang upon the wag-
on waving a Union Jack and calling
for three cheers for the King. His act
aroused wild enthusiasm among the
vast mass of people, who cheered for
some minutes.
Mrs. Drummond and the other Suf
fragettes placed under arrest were re-
leased soon after the pro-Ulster dem
onstration broke up. The police eX-
planned their arrest and detention at
the police station as being merely in
tended to save them from further
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