The Washington herald., 1914-03-29
Graver Issues Than Home
Rule for Ireland Underlie
Battles Soon to Come.
BY JOHN A. HENNEssYs

BY JOHN A. HENNEssYs
Special Gable TO The Washington Herald.
Former managing editor of the New
York Press and graft investigator for
former Gov. Sulzer. of New York, whose
disclosures led to the grand jury m
yestigation of Tammany Hall and VINO
is in Europe making a study OF govern
mental systems-
Belfast, March S-The history-making
Parliament. which now is sending hame
of political passion into every part OF
Great Britain and ireland, may last a
few weeks or may. because OF certain
conditions in coalition majority live until
next year, and keep the nation split and
disOrdeFly.
Could the Liberals and the Laborites
agree upon a division OF parliamentary
seats there would be an immediate ap-
peal to the electors after the second read
ing of the home rule bill. The failure
IN mart of the insurance act and the dis
content of many Liberal voters with the
old-age pension law, would not deter AZ
quith, Churchill, and Lloyd George from
an electoral onslaught on Unionists, couid
thew be assured of unity in their own
ranks
Tbe election would not turn on home
rnIe for Ireland. Graver issues underiie
the tremendous parliamentary battles
soon TO come. II is TO be fight OF
radical England 20 further limit the
powers of those who, by virtue OF their
rank, wealth. or social position, would
continue to make class distinction con-
troll. 1t is a CRY Of republicanism against
the system, which prefers the sons of
noblernen for positions in the army and
navy and elsewhere. and decries that the
artisans son shall not rise by talent to
certain places reserved for those of
aristocracy and wealth. 1t is to be q
battle against the right of any man TO
have plural votes no matter what his
rate-paYing may be. 1t is to be struggle
TO emphasize at the polls the Parliament
act which shackled the House of Lords.
1t is to be an effort to give the earning
classes of England more control of their
government.
There is no home rue crisis except as
il has been steadily and shrewdly manu-
factured by the Troy party in the hope OF
arousing racial and religious prejudices
strong enough TO destroy the coalition
government.
The Real Ulster Situation.
The Ulster question is not itself in the
front rank. nor are Ulster volunteers
more than a side show. II is true there
is some power in Northern Ireland. and
some 5000 men and boys who say they
Will use IT when provocation comes. The
powder, however. is no more dangerous
than the volunteers. Only strong pres
sure from the Unionists across the Irish
Sea can bring about disorder that can
not be quelled by royal Irish constabu-
larry. The Conservatives have Ulster
painted upon their political banners and
loudly proclaim the probability of civil
war but this is only mask for their
Ultimate purpose.
All the genius of the Unionist leaders
is directed toward forcing a general
election upon the issues framed by
themselves. They know that Ulster has
a home rule majority in the House of
Commons, and they know that five of
nine Ulster counties are with the rest of
Ireland. They know there is no serious
question, only as they have created
il by lighting sectional fires. II is a
war signal to blind religious prejudices.
The real motive OF the Tories is the
destruction of the Parliament act which
shackled the House of Lords. They are
fighting the last battle for aristocracy,
social influence and new found wealth.
The victory would impair. il not destroy,
the influence of Lloyd George and Win
ston Churchill 1t would save the great
Landed proprietors from the taxing
schemes of the Radicals. 1t would stop
the rising tide of democracy.
Ulster is the shield behind which the
conflict is forming. and on this made-to-
order issue the future OF England. for A
time at least. will be framed at the bal
lot box. Ulster itself is as peaceful as
New York in a primary election.
Ulster Fire Fed in London.
I have visited every section and talked
with many men. The ostentatiOus drill
ing Of volunteers has not caused a furry
except in the CnioBist newspapers. The
photographinG Of the citizen soldiers has
brought no more excitement than bat
tie in a motion picture show.
The firing of bullets into the home of a
Catholic family in Derry City last We'd
nesday was followed by no outward re-
sentiment The Ulster question is kept
alive in Ulster only as it is fed by
Tnionist leaders in London, bent upon a
forced and riOtous issue TO win the
great stake they have in mind.
The conflict is now nationwide. The
insubordinate acts of the army officers,
who are opposed to Parliament and the
Radicals, have brought up the question
threatened by Chamberlain ana Dixie
twenty years ago as TO whether mon
arChy and its attendant powers shall
survive 10 halt the progress of a people.
The Ulster volunteers were organized
Two years ago not 10 snOot ANYBODY DuI
to deter the coalition government from
going on with its progressive program.
II home rule could he sidetracked by
threats the coalition would dissolve and
Lloyd GeorEs's ambitious schemes to re-
duce the arisIocracy would go a-glm-
merng. The volunteers were laughed at
then as they are now. They were recog-
niZed as pawns in the hands OF able
men in London. The government went
on with its program Then arms were
sent to Ulster and threats of rebellion
were made the answer. AS the shacklinG
Of the lords went on the formation and
drilling of volunteer regiments followed
hut this did not stop the Liberals, Labor
ties, and Nationalists from forcing along
the coalition policy.
The money of the Conservatives poured
into Ulster to keep the new Covenanters
alive and active. 1t wouldn't do to fight
the Radicals in an electoral contest or
plural voting. on the naked issue of home
rule or on the powers of lords. So Ulster