The Irish standard., 1914-05-09
it cannot deceive any man VIII,
knows his Ulster"
Mr.. Devlin ON Carsonism.

Mr.. Joseph Devlin. M. p. for West
Belfast, addressing a meeting of his
constituents on Tuesday night, last,
summed up the Irish situation in a
speech of first-rate Importance. He
said:
"He was convinced the cause of
self-government for, Ireland had
emerged into stronger and more as
sured position. Solely in the inter-
ests Of peace, and as an indication
of the good faith which actuated the
Nationalist Party towards the Union
list forces in Ulster, they had agreed,
even If reluctantly. to the concessions
put forth by Mr.. Asquith. The Irish
Party could not and would not adj
vance an inch further in order to
conciliate party which had met ev-
cry advance hitherto with sneers and
jeers, and as a confession of weak
ness and cowardice.
'"There was nothing except the
empty threats of Carsonism to pre-
vent the Home Rule bill becoming
law. Once the bill had been placed
on the Statute Book, it would be-
come the imperative duty of Irish
men. at all costs. to see that it was
kept there. by taking such means as
they thought best to insure that they
should not be deprived of the fruits
of forty years of constitutional agi-
tation, involving almost unparalleled
sacrifice and suffering.
CHOSE who lived on the spot in
Belfast, at the heart of the Carsonite
movement. knew it was a fraud,
humbug, forced and subsidized
movement, organized at enormous
cost to bluff the British people.
When it was known that the writ
of King George, and not of King
Carson was to run Ulster. there
would be an end to the farce, and
men who today were compelled to
countenance Carsonism would be the
strongest supporters of self-gov-
erned Ireland.
"1t had been no light task to win
the manhood of Ireland from physi-
cal force methods to those of Con-
stitutional agitation. But the Irish
people were never better prepared
to face any contingency which might
arise out of the political development
Of today. II the necessity arose. a
quarter of a million of Volunteers
men in the prime of youth and
manhood, to whom Irish nationality
was dearer than life-would respond
to morrow to the call of ireland to
defend those libertiese that the Home
Rule Bill proposed to guarantee to
her."
Ulster Unionist Councils Connection.
On Saturday morning last. the
newspapers published an official
statement issued by. the Ulster Union
list Council alleging that in harmony
with Mr.. Winston Churchill's speech
at Bradford, on March 14th, the
Government had arranged a plan Of
operation against Ulster" In adj
dition to Strengthening the guards at
the depots at Armagh, Carrickfergus.
Omagh, Enniskillen, and Dundalk, an
advance corps was to be sent to
Newry; the bridges and strategic
points along the Boyne were to be
seized, and 10000 troops were to be
brought from Lichfield and Alder
shot, to bring the army operating
against 'Ulster" up to $4,000 men.
ulster" was to be blockaded by
land and sea. Two gunboat destroy
ers were to carry troops to Carrick-
fergus, and to keep open communica-
lions between there and Hollywood
barracks, near Belfasct. Two flotil-
las of destroyers and battle squad
ron were ordered to Belfast, to CO.
operate with the policy and the mill
tary. The police were to seize some
depots of army belonging to the Car
sonites, and to take possession of the
Old Town Hall, the Carsonite head
quarters. This would cause blood
shed, as the "Volu1teers' would at
tack the police, and then the Army
and Navy would interfere to restore
law and order.
Colonel seely, MP, who was Sec
rotary for war at the time. referred
to this statement on Saturday in his
speech to his constituents. After
stating amidst loud cheers that:
ulster must understand that she
occupies no preferential position &.
If she interferes with the police. she
must expect exactly the same treat
ment as any other body of men in
the United Kingdom who break the
law"
Colonel Seeley said:
HE found it difficult to cope with
such statements as those. He said
solemnly that his whole object has
been to secure a peaceful settlement
of the Irish question
"That he should have taken steps
such as were attributed to him was
so unthinkable to him that he could
not find words sufficiently strong in
which to clear SO gross charge.
What were those plans and who.
knew of them? No instructions were
given to the general officer command
ing the forces in Ireland which were