A GRIM DEMONSTRATION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 9

A GRIM DEMONSTRATION.

SPLENDID NATIONALIST RECEPTION.

MEETING PEACEFUL AND TAME

MR CHURCHILL'S SPEECH.

(Received February 9th, 11.20 p.m LONDON, February 9,

When Mr Churchill left His hotel a crowd of 10,000 gathered in the vicinity, and the conaiabulary had a difficulty in clearing a passage for the car, whioh was almost overturned. The crowd uttered fearful menaces and imprecations. The whole was a grim demonstration of passion. ■~

Mr Churchill showed no sign of flinching, and took the hostility very calmly.

. As he entered the Nationalist quarter the scene changed, and at the reception the most remarkable benedictions were showered upon him froni the, windows, and not a groan was heard anywhere. Effigies of Lord Londonderry and Sir Edward Carson, labelled turncoats and traitors, wero hanging at various v points. Too meeting proved peaceful and tame. Rain fell throughout. At the conclusion of the meeting an enormous crowd of Ulstermcn aaaited Mr Churchill's return to his hotel, but, making a detour, Mr Churchill went to the railway station and departed tor England. The only interruptions at the meeting cam© from suffragettes. Mr Churchill said:—"That on the eve of the Home Rule Bill the leaders of Irish public opinion had been consulted, but it would be a British Government Bill, a Bill for the settlement of a long-stand-ing quarrel between England and Ireland. It would be a victory worthy to stand .with Trafalgar and Waterloo. Every part of the Empire and the United States would applaud its efficiency. The Imperial Parliament had demanded a division on local and Imperial affairs, and the Government recognised that Ireland stood in a different position to other parts of the Kingdom. A measure applicable to Scotland and Wales was not applicable to the needs of Ireland, but the Irish Home Rule plan would consistently fit the general scheme of Parliamentary devolution, arid harmonise with the designs of the ultimate federation o f Empire. The Irish Parliament would be so constituted that both the House of Commons and Senate would be as fairly representative of Protestants and Catholics and of minorities, even more than of majorities. Religious oppression which the Ulster men feared, would not occur. "The Crown had the power to refuse assent to an unjust Bill an <j the Imperial Parliament would be able to repeal or enact another '■= law if the laic made by tbe la^Parliament

transgressed the Home Rule Bill, the Privy Council would declare it void. All the military faces would remain under Imperial control.