The Washington times., 1914-04-08

.Heartless Tory Conspiracy.
John Redmond, a Catholic, is now
the spokesman Of Irish nationality
in the British parliament. but the
voices of Ireland's Protestant lead
ers for a hundred years rise in pro-
test against the hoarse cry Of armed
Ulster today that home rule Is a
scheme Matched in the secret bosom
of the Catholic church. and intended
as a means Of prosecuting Protes-
tants.
No one can be in Belfast now with
out understanding the heartless po-
ntcal conspiracy to restore the Brit
1sh aristocracy to power that lies be-
mind these open preparations for civ
IL war to maintain the long suprem-
acy Of the irish minority.
In three successive general e1ec-
tions the unionists. representing rank
and privilege in Great Britain, have
failed to drive the liberals out OF
power.
Driven to desperation by the law
which took from the house of lords
Its absolute right Of veto upon all
acts of the house Of commons-an
act achieved by the Joint liberal and
Irish nationalist votesEand fright
ened by. Lloyd-George's drastic pro-
gram for taxing hitherto privileged
wealth, including the great landed
estates. the dukes and earls, the less
er arlstocracy, and the great multi
millionatres who act with them DO
litica!ly. seized upon the Irish home
rule issue as a last chance to seize
tne government again, undo some Of
the epoch-mal<inE work of the Brit
ish democracy, and prevent any fur
ther radical legislation in the future.
Prevent Factory Legislation.
The great linen manufacturers of
Ulster. the two great shipbuilding
firms Of Belfast and all the other
large industrial, commercial and f.
nancial interests which control Ulster
are closely allied with Unionist poll
tics.
They fear the democracy OF Ire
land as the English aristocracy fears
the democracy Of England.
Twice has the home rule bill pass
ed in the house Of commons and
twice have the lords rejected 1t.
When 1t Is passed in the commons a
third time 1t will become a law in
spite OF the lords.
The conspiracy for civil war In Ire
tand was organized In the hope that
the masses of English voters, who
stand solidly behind the liberal gov
ernment would become terrified at
the prospect Of widespread bloodshed
and that public sentiment would
force the government to abandon the
home rule bill or to submit to a gen.
eral election, SO that even IL the
liberals were successful at the polls
the bill would have to be passed
again in three successive parlia-
ments.
The rich men Of Ulster and their
titled associates who are backing the
scheme for a rebellion Of the armed
minority are principally actuated by
a desire to control the government
patronage in ireland and to prevent ,
any factory legislation or industrial
taxation by an Irish parliament.
They are also fearful that Irish
self-government may result in the
establishment Of competing indus
tries in other parts Of the country
that may menace the supremacy Of
the north.
It was easv for them to appeal to
the deep religious hatreds Of the
masses Of Ulster and to excite their
old fears Of an Ireland dominated by
Rome and consecrated to the utter
destruction of Professionalism.
Tragedy and Rage.
This afternoon went about
among the men in the great ship
yard of Workman & ClarlSs and
tsfked with them about thcir rea-
sons for opposing ho.re ruiz
But for the tragedy that hangs
i'm the air, the rage Nth wn'sa theL
Ccnounce the Catholics IT Ireland
would have been laugha bic. Br:t
il is not easy to smile al tie des-
rerate and unthinking biEoSry ii
men who are being dr'lea anu
men at a signal to be given by
heartless politicians.
Again and again the roigh fel-
fows repeated old ISLANDERS, against
Catholics that nave been disproved
q thousand times. Their cheeks
could be no doIb: that the. were
in earnest anil were rcndy to die
to save Ulster from Rome.
But not one os them scented to
know that all ;he great nationalist
leaders Of Irelarl but one were
Protestants, and that tn, home rule
movement was gera,,h'te1 in Pro-
testant minds.
Even allowing for the eStraordi-
nary and often f.nat,cai religious
prejudices of the rorth of Ireland.
there must have been much system
attic working upon tue minds Of
such stalwart, honest. wholesome
specimens of manhood to produce
the almost insane exhibition of
hGtred and anger which | witnessed
today.
Even the most pessimistic Turks
Fave sroken vito more charity OF
the Armenians than these Belfast
shipyard workers spoke to-day CT
the Irish Catholics.
Playing Dangerous Game.
Having relit the fires of centuries OF
religious hate. the leaders of British
aristocratlc politics are. by thSir open
preparations for armed rebellion in
Ulster. plainly trying to tempt the
Liberal government into some act of
Interference that will result in blood
shed and an outcry OF horror the
ministry in London and restore tho
dukes and earls and the money lords
to authority again.
The threat OF the army officers at
the CTrraCh to resign rather than
make war against Uuster was a
piece OF pure political theatricalism
intended to excite the English
voters.
They were not asked to attack any
one. and the promptness with which
they seized the first shadowy excuse
to make a demonstration intended to
embarrass the government. shows
how the politicians have been trying
to tamper with the army.
Last night. for instance. a military