The Irish standard., 1914-04-18
THE KING, THE army
AND HOME RULE
Important Events Crowded Into the
Past Few Weeks Mark
Important Epoch
The Present Crisis in English Affairs
Most Important in Centuries

Asquith Recognized as the Leader
and Power in British Affairs
The past week has been one of the
most memorable in British history. q
week Of thrills and surprises, of fierce
passion. and Of alternate dependency
and hope. Once again. the Home Rule
question has shaken the Empire to its
foundations, raised issues which 70 to
the very root of the Constitution of
these realms, and brought men face to
face with elementary principles by
which democratic government must
either stand or fall. The conspiracy
which the Unionist party has been
Matching for over two years, and on
which they have expended millions of
money, has been prematurely explod-
ed. Its design was, by pressure, exer.
cised In high quarters, in society, and
on the army, and by the organization
Of sham army and the threat of re-
bellion In Ulster, to overawe the gov.
ernment and the House of Commons,
to force dissolution of Parliament,
and so to defeat the Home Rule Bill,
to smash the Parliament Act, and to
establish on q firmer basis than ever
the veto Of the peers and the ascend
ency of the oligarchy. The conspiracy
has been unmasked, the plot has mis-
carried, the spirit of the democracy
has been aroused as it has not been
for two hundred years, and the issue
of Home Rule for Ireland has been
joined irrevocably to the new issue as
to whether the elected representatives
of the people In Parliament, having
abolishd the veto of the House of
Lords, are to accept the veto of the
officers mess, or, as Mr.. Lloyd George
puts it, Whether this country is to
remain free, or is, in effect, to be en-
slaved by a military despotism." On
this issue, the battle has joined, and
the result is foregone conclusion.
Democracy must either win or perish.
How 1t Came About.
The story of the Unionist plot is
briefly told. ulster" was and is a
mere pawn in the game. When Car
son fled from the House of Commons
on March 18th, after his castigation by
Mr.. Joseph Devlin, M. p, he was to re-
turn at once ito my people," Presum.
ably, the House of Commons was to
know him no more. That night, he
crossed to Belfast and Immediately the
lie factories of Unionism put in circu-
lation that warrants had been issued
for his arrest and that of 200 others.
He was met at Belfast by a bodygard
of volunteers" and escorted to Craig.
avon. the residence of Capt. Craig, M.
p, where he set up bogus court"
or headquarters" with volunteers"
on guard, and issued proclamation"
calling ON his followers to keep the
peace. There had been rumors cur.
rent, silly rumors, about Carson's
volunteers" selling postoffices, and
other government buildings, and the
government had ordered a small num-
ber of extra troops into Ulster to pro-
tect stores at Enniskillen, Newry,
Omagh and Armagh, and some troops
were transferred from Belfast to Holy
wood, which is south Of Belfast, and
near Craigavon. Some Of the cavalry
officers at the Curragh refused to 60
to Ulster and resigned. A warship
had been sent to Belfast with q small
number of extra troops for Carrick.
fergus Castle. All this was a perfect
godsend for the Carsonite liemongers,
and the London Unionist papers were
deluged with lies about parade OF
5000 Carsonite volunteers" at Belfast
Castle, and about every church steeple
and tower in ulster" being occupied
by men awaiting the rocket signal from
the Carsonite headquarters in Belfast
in order to pass on the fiery signal al
over the province and summon the
mythical "army" Of 100000 Carsonites
to action. The refusal of the aristo
cratic officers at the Curragh to pro
ceed to ulster" was hailed with Joy
by the Carsonites and the Unionists
Home Rule was dead. It could never
pass now that the government coult
no longer reckon on the army to pu
down Carson's rebellion In Ulster
1t was the crowded hour" of Carson
ism. Sunday, March 22nd. saw then
at the zenith of their power. 1t wit
messed the delirium of their intoxica
ton Of triumph over Asquith and Red
mond and Home Rule.
II The Awakening.
;, Then came Monday, March 2Srd
; and the statement made by Mr.. Asquit
lin the House Of Commons. He sal