The Sun WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1914. THE IRRECONCILABLES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 29, 11 March 1914, Page 6

The Sun WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1914. THE IRRECONCILABLES.

. The spirit . in which Mr Asquith's offer has.beenmet does not augur very favourably for a., settlement. .of the Ulster problem by consent. It is suggested that the Ulster counties shalj.be allowed to take a vote, as to whether they shall remain .outside the ; jurisdiction of the Irish Legislature , .for, a period of six years. • There is no question that long before the six years had elapsed the Irislj. Parliament would hftye ' demonstrated its. capacity, or otherwise, and if, for the sake of argument, it proved corrupt or incompetent, no English Government, either Libera} or Conservative, could fail to intervene and permanently remove Ulster . from any risk of being governed-by a legislature of this description. But Sir Edward Carson is in no mood for compromise. Like the .traditional Irishman he prefers his grievance, and such men are beyond argument and reason. In the first place it should be that the Home Rule Bill confers a very moderate amount of self-government on Ireland. If it is carried and made to apply to the northern and southern counties alike, Ireland still - remains subject =to the jurisdiction of the English Parliament on > most of- the essential questions of government. The Irish people will retain representation at Westminster as before, althbugh there will not be so many members. Further, it is; not .at all probable, that the Nationalists, which are the ; cause of nearly" all this j'' TJlsteria,'' will participate to any very serious extent in the government and. administration of . Ireland under Home Rule. These men may be political opportunists and professional politicians, but they are not exactly fools, and they are hardly likely to voluntarily sacrifice the attractions of life in London, the honour of a seat in the Imperial Parliament, and £4OO a year, -for the humble position of member in a comparatively unimportant Legislative Assembly which is to sit in Dublin, and occupy itsfilf with prosaic Retails to the internal affairs of Ireland. We venture to say tha,t after the Home Rule Bill becomes law, Mr Redmond, Mr Devlin, and their colleagues will prefer the fleshpots of Westminster as formerly, and that instead of removing to Dublin for the purpose of tyrannising over Ulster, they will discover the importance of Ireland beiug adequately represented in the English Parliament on Imperial questions. If the Unionists and Sir Edward Carson remain firm in their refusal to entertain any compromise short of one that will debar at least half the population in Ulster which wants Home Rule from getting it, the onus and responsibility will rest on them of any civil disturbances which may ensue when elections take place' for the legislature' created by the Home Rule Bill. The Liberals, at any rate, will have clean hands. They have offered to meet the other side morie than half way, and more cannot be expected of them. ' ' '