The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-05-26
A Political Analysis
and Situation
Few People in America Understand
the Situation in ireland, Especially
the Complexion Of Ulster Politi-
calIy-Far From the Truth That
All of Ulster is Against
Home Rule.

AAay oC4u1O C1OS0 up View VI Iu0
Complexion of Ulster politically, the
following intelligent and careful study
of the situation is presented. Since
the crux of the Irish question may be
on the method of dealing with this diff
ficulty, it is desirable that the facts
shall be generally understood, as the
basis of enlightened discussion.
The assertion that practically all
the counties in Ulster are against
home rule" is far removed from the
truth. Yet the mistake is quite COM
mon one. No doubt many American
newspaper readers have gained the
idea that the whole province of
Ulster is stronghold of Irish anti
nationalism. This is natural enough,
considering that in London news, and
particularly in the report of Parliamen-
tary debates, such phrases as 'Ulster
opposition" "Ulster's demand" and
Clusters resistance" have become
familiar. Yet it is as misleading to
say that Ulster is opposed to home
rule as it would be to speak of the
New York State delegation in the
House of Representatives as "the
Tammany delegation" Substitute the
substantive "Orange" for "Ulster" in
the above quoted phrases, and you
have a correct definition.
Ulster is represented in the House
of Commons by thirty-three members,
and of these seventeen are home rul-
ers, and sixteen Unionists, or anti
home rulers. BY this simple classifica-
tion We may judge whether practical
ly all of the counties in Ulster are
aaginst home rule" But let us state
the case little more in detail. Ulster
has nine counties-Antrim, Armagh,
Cavan, Donegal, Down, Derry, Ferman-
agh, Monaghan and Tyrone. The
Orange opposition to home rule is
largely concentrated in the four east
ern counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down
and Derry (or Londonderry. Cavan,
Donegal and Monaghan are as uncom-
promisingly pro-Nationalist on home
rule as Cork or Tipperary. These
three counties are represented in Par
lament by a solid home rule delega-
ton, and that has been their unvary-
ing record for more than thirty years.
The two other counties of Ulster,
Fermanagh and Tyrone, are closely
divided politically, but even there the
leaning is toward home rule. Tyrone
is represented in the present Com
mons by three home rulers and one
,Unionist. In the last election the
home rule vote exceeded the entire
Unionist vote by 1000 in Tyrone out
of a total of $4,000 and by 24S in
Fermanagh out of total of 5000
These are small margins, but the two
counties must be called pro-Nationalist
on the only decisive test.
If what is known as the county op-
tion compromise should be adopted,
and the Ulster counties should be al
lowed to determine by referendum
whether they should become a part of
self-governing Ireland and accept the
domination of Dublin Parliament,
four countries would. undoubtedly vote
"aye" and four mo-" while Fermanagh
would be doubtful, with the chances
favoring a Nationalist victory. 1t is
queer commentary on the shifts to
which the Orange recalcitrants resort
to avoid majority rule that they have
seriously proposed that 55 per cent
majority shall be necessary to carry
any Ulster county into the political
body governed from Dublin. BY this
expedient they hope to keep Tyrone
and Fermanagh in the Orange group
by separating them from the rest of
Nationalist Ireland.
These facts show that Ulster is di-
vided on the home rule question. In
the other three provinces of Ireland,
Leinster, Munster and Connaught, the
sentiment of the Irish people is vlr-
tually unanimous in favor of home
rule. In all that territory not a single
district has elected other than home
rule representative in Parliament
since Parnell's time.