The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-10
Continued from Page ~
HOME RULE ASSURED.
A United Irish Nation.

united IrlSn NATION.
But aside from this Ascendency, l
say the exclusion of Ulster or any part
of Ulster would mean the ruin of it's
prosperity. And to us the exclusion
would mean something more 1t would
mean the notification of our hopes
and aspirations for the future of the
Irish nation. 1t would mean the cree
ton of sharp, permanent, eternal divid-
ing lines between Catholics and
Professionals, whereas our ideal has
been an Irish nation in the future
made up of blend of all races, of
all classes, of all creeds. We are will
| ing, and always have been willing,
to safeguard the civil and religious
liberty of every section of our people,
no matter how small. l have always
said, both publicly and privately, that
the Irish Protestants would have fair
play when Home Rule was estab-
lished; and l repeat tonight that the
same desire prevails among my col
leagues.
ireland is confident; she is trust
full, and she has learned to trust the
Justice, the honor and the wisdom
of an enlightened British democracy.
She profoundly trusts the great man
who is leading the Home Rule Move
ment, the Prime Minister. Ireland is
not only confident and trustful. but,
mark you, she is patient, self-re
strained and peaceful.
Irish Nationalist at Door of the
Empire.
What we are demanding now is
admission to the British Constitution.
We have never during the last cen
tury lived under the blessings and
safeguards of the Constitution which
has been the palladium of your liber-
ties. We Irish Nationalist stand to-
day at the door of the Empire, and
we ask for admission. We pledge |
you our fealty as nation and our
loyalty as men, We seek to blot out |
even the memory of ancient wrongs
and ancient miseries and ancient |
causes of heart-burning and discon-
tent. We ask today to be allowed to !
J cross the threshold into an Empire, |
ours, remember, by right of service as
much as yours-where the genius of
our people, the valor of our soldiers |
and the fidelity of our race may pos |
sibly prove to be one of your greatest
assets in the vicissitudes and dangers |
of an unknown future. I beg of you, |
therefore, in the name of justice and
honor no less than in the name of
wisdom and of self-interest-I beg of |
you not to permit the door of the
Empire to be slammed in the face of
Ireland, either by the fear of fana- |
tics or by the bludgeons of bullies."
Plan of Action.
Since the delivery of the Newcastle |
speech which the London Times adj
mitted to be lone of the best state
ments of the Home Rule case yet
made plan of action has been pro-
posed by the Liberal Cabinet to Union
lists and U1stermen whereby, if the
Home Rule Bill should become law
for the whole of Ireland, this law
would be suspended in it's operation
throughout Ulster, for term of years.
Meanwhile Ulster would have the OPP
ton of entering the Parliamentary
Fold at Dublin whenever the time
seemed suitable. During the sus-
pended operation of the Home Parlia-
ment, Ulster would be governed di-
rectly from Westminster. 1t is one
way of reaching an agreement. Mr..
Asquith, the Prime Minister, speaking
at Tadvbank recently observed: 81
am prepared to consider any plan
with a perfectly open mind, but there
are two governing considerations.
First, nothing is to be done that will
interfere with the setting-up in Dub
lin of a subordinate Irish Legislation
with an Executive responsible to it.
In the second place, nothing is to be
done to erect permanent or an in
superable barrier in the way of Irish
Unity" The temporary exclusion of
Ulster is not deemed a permanent
or insuperable barrier, for it is be-
lieved that Ulster will soon see, both
from a business and political stand
point, the folly of keeping aloof, like
Ephraim's wild ass, from the security
and comfort of the Irish Fold.
DIR. J. H. Morgan, Professor of Con-
stitutional Law in the University OF
London, has drafted plan based upon
the present constitution of Canada.
According to this plan, Ulster would
be treated as the various Canadian
provinces are now treated by the
Dominion Parliament at Ottawa. 1t
is likely that such a settlement will
be reached by the political parties
here-a settlement which will bring /
lasting peace to the warning factions
in Ireland.