The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-03
WANT ELECTORS TO
PASS ON HOME RULE
lord Roberts and Other Leaders
Appeal to People to Pre-
vent Bills Passage.
TRGE A SOLEMN PROTEST
Believe Change without Coun-
try's Assent Is Devoid Of
Moral Sanction.
rRGE A SOLEMN PROTEST
Special Gable Despatch to The sus.


LONDON. March "a number Of promi-
men; men headed by Lord Roberts threw
A byrnb into the political arena yesterday
By issuing joint letter protesting against
the enactment OF the home rule bill with
on; an appeal to the country at a general
election or referendum.
The letter makes an appeal to the people
10 subscribe to a covenant pledging them
selves to do their utmost to prevent the
bill now pending In the House Of Commons
from becoming operative until II has been
admitted to "a national verdict. The
r,lonist morning papers make feature
Of the letter. which IL printed under big
headlines.
The sgnatories to the letter say arnorg
sther things that they believe that hum
dreds OF thousands OF serious. law abiding
citizens are convinced that "a fundamental
change In the Constitution effected without
the concurrence and. as we think. against
the ulsh OF a majority of the nation Is
utterly devoid Of moral sanction. Under
these circumstances the resistance which
will certainly be offered BY those Irish
men who are unwilling to be deprived Of
their existing status as full citizens OF
the United Kingdom will 10 we'll justl-
fed"
Crge . solemn Protest.
For this reason the slgnatories to the
k,,er appeal to their fellow countrymen
10 join them In solemn protest and q
declaration that they cannot accept and
shall decline to be bound by the pro-
visions OF law which will radically alter
the constitution so long as that law has
rot received the sanction OF the people.
BY signing this declaration no one will
,iedge himself to any particular action
Of which at given moment his conscience
and Judgment do not approve
Tie letter declares that II is impossible
a. present to decide what steps will be
necessary or effective In circumstances
which the signatories hope will not arise,
tut says 1t Is not too early to combine
a declaring their intention to do their
u,nos, to prevent the disruption OF the
United Kingdom By unconstitutional
methods.
The formula for signature which IL to
b submitted to the people reads:
Being earnestly convinced that the
claim Of the Government that IL will
carry the home rule bill without submit
ting II to the judgment of the
Ration Is contrary to the spirit OF the
Constitution. hereby solemniy declare
that II the bill is so passed 1 shall hold
iayselt to be justified In taking or sup.
porting any action that may be effective
70 prevent II from being put into opera
ton, and more particularly to pre-
vent the armed forces of the Crown from
icing used to deprive the people OF Ulster
o; their rights as citizens OF the United
Kingdom"
The sgnatories to the letter include,
besides Lord Roberts, Admiral the Right
Hon Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, Baron
\ Aoenham. Lord Balfour Of Burleigh. Arch
deacon Cunningham. Lord DesborouRh.
Sir Edward Elgar. the composer viscount
hsitax' president Of the English Church
Union Rudyard Kipllng. Lord Miner. the
luke o. Portland. Albert Venn Dicey. NJ.
A. lecturer on international law ana
author Of Il number of works, including
Ensiands Case Against Home Rule"
CIR William Ramsay. the chemist and a
NOBEL prize winner; and the Very Rev.
henry WAGE. Dean OF Canterbury.
What London Papers Say.
The Cnionist papers naturally pra,se
Me letter In their columns. saying that
"" matter Of the greatest gravity.
ine Liberal newspapers. while printing
'"e letter conspicuously. In fact almost
V much as the Unionist papers, do not
agree with the Unionist papers as to its
sshincance. The Daily Chronicle ridicules
wat 1t calls Its puerility. The Daily
"e~s and Leader treats It as a deciara-
uon OF a contingent rebellion. 1t says
10 foolish and desperate and is bound
" throw discredit on its promoters.
inside and outside OF Parliament nego-
Nations were on foot yesterday with a
View to expediting financial business In
order 10 clear the way for Premier
Asauith's promised announcement of sug-
sestions for a compromise on the home
rue bill
John Redmond and T. p. O'Connor
conferred with Premier Asquith and
Cnancellor Of the Exchequer Lloyd
"e''se but the negotiations were not
concluded. The opinion in the Hobbies IN
Nsard to the home rule measure is that
~ compromise will be reached.
The Cn'onist press has been busy In the
~s' lew days in making circumstantiai
predictions OF an early election. If the
"o'eFo where there IL smoke there
must be fire. Is applicable II may be
inferred that a general election is much
nearer than was lately supposed. but
nc Ministerialists scout tho idea OF such
'h"s being possible before the passage
'ne home rule bill, which will he put
through again under the provisions of
Tie Parliament act
premier Asqu!th will probably announce
III The House Of Commons to-day the date
'ne re!ntroduction OF the bill. It Is
sh''rstood that John Redmond wishes
10 be reintroduced on st. Patrick's
day