Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07
THE BRITISH CRISIS
XXII.-The Plot Against Ulster
By Frederic J. Haskin.

BELFAST, May 26.-That the British
| government deliberately plotted the
murder of the Protestant people Of Bel
fast and other Ulster communities Is
the firm belief of your fisherman, and
unless one takes this belief into con-
sideration he can have no idea of how
the fisherman feels toward the present
government in Great Britain. or how
willingly he will use that rife with
which he has been drilling and target
shooting these two years.
| Not only do the Ulstermen believe
that the government plotted their mas
sacre. but they also believe that 1t
was done at the dictation of the
"Papist' nationalists. who. they think.
are in corrupt and unholy alliance with
the liberal party to destroy the British
empire and bring all Ireland under the
direct rule of the Pope
| 1t may be absurd that any people
should hold such views in these en-
lightened times, but that doesn't in
hold such views. The real danger Of
civil war in the United Kingdom is to
be found in such fanatic ideas.
Sir Edward Carson and Lord Lon
donderry may not believe these things.
but they have said they believed them.
Their followers have taken them at
their word. they have not abated one
jot from the fever of political delirium.
they believe that there was plot that
they were the intended victims of that
plot. and that their lives and their
homes were saved alone by the patriotic
loyalty of army officers who refused to
obey the orders of a diSloyal govern
ment.
In this paradox lies the key to the
whole muddle. To be 'loyal is not to
support the constitutional government Of
t1,n hint 10 hat TGfa ~
wants and what Ulster believes the king
wants. To be 'disloyal is to support
what the constitutional government of
the empire is planning. and what Ulster
believes the Pope wants.
Now for the story of the famous pilot
Against Ulster which for a time threat
ened to shake the very foundations of
the British empire. and which gave the
has had since Napoleon was whipped at
Waterloo.
Men differ about when the story should
begin. Liberals say it dates from the
signing Of the u
Unionist Version ster covenant and
It. .n,,. the organization OF
VI '1o AAoI' the Ulster volun-
teers. But liberals also say II WASH
+! plot at all. so perhaps it will be better
to take the story as the unionists tell II.
They say it all began last December
| when Mr. Asquith made a speech at Man
chester which was couched in concllia-
tory language and suggested the desira-
| bility of compromise on the nome RUE
bill that would be consented to by Ulster
This finally resulted in the government
offer to permit each county in Ulster to
decide by vote whether it would or would
not come under the new Irish govern
ment for term of six years.
1t was affirmed by the Ulster leaders
that at this time there were more than
100000 Ulster volunteers under full mill
| tary organization, drilled and partially
equipped, and capable of being modified
within twentyfour hours, the volunteers
| being organized for the sole purpose of
resisting the enforcement of the home
| rule bill The Ulster leaders intimated
that these men were we'll armed but 1t
| was an open secret that they desired
more rifles and ammunition.
| December 16 Col. Seely, secretary OF
state for war, summoned to the war office
| the chief of the imperial staff, Sir John
French. and the adjutant general. Sir
| Spencer Ewart. These high officers said,
according to Col. Seely, that lowing to
| attempts that had been made in many
| quarters to subvert the discipline Of the
| army it was desirable that special steps
| should be taken in order to insure that
| Q1SclplInc SnOulu DC iildiildHic0- Soi.
, Seely told these officers then that what
| had now to be faced was the possibility
/ of action being required by his majesty S
| troops in supporting the civil power, IN
protecting life and property where the
police We're unable to hold their own
Unionsts in parliament have said that
! this was outrageous because at this time
| Ulster was as peaceable as it ever had
been in its history They ignored the
| 10000 drilling volunteers.
| fNoJ of
i it might be for discipline, the army Off
GERS might have a right to consider
| whether they would obey an order to
massacre a demonstration of Orangemen
who were causing no danger to the lives
of their neighbors. but that no such order
| ever would be given.
| Rumors that the Ulster volunteers were
+, sorely put to it for arms continued to
reach the government, SO that in January
| the army asked for a ship to be
sent to Carrickfergus Castle. where there
| was a large store of ammunition and