The Press. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1914. The Outlook for Ireland.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14898, 11 February 1914, Page 8

The Press. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1914. The Outlook for Ireland.

Perhaps the colonial supporters of Home Rule for Ireland will not pay any attention to tho grave statement by Sir Horace Plunkett, which is cabled to us to-day, but wo may be sure that ltobody in Great Britain or Ireland*, bo ho Nationalist or Unionist, will treat with disrespect the opinion of the man •who probably knows more about Ireland and Irish opinion than anybody else. Sir Horace is not only in a sense the maker of modern Irish progress—such a title is not too high for the founder and guide of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society—but is also a friend of Irish Nationalism. Like Mr William O'Brien, however, he would not havo Nationalist aspirations satisfied at the expense of Ireland's peace and' prosFerity, and that both will bo seriously stricken by tho forced passage of tne present Homo Rulo Bill is his firm oonviciion. His testimony to the seriousness of tho Ulstormen's attitude '.s, of oouree, not necessary now: even the most reckless and short-sighted of the British .Radicals have come to admit that Ulster is in earnest. Parliament is re-assembling, and there can now be no further delay in a settlement of the question one way or the other. More than once during the past year it. has •eemed as if soim# way out of the dreadful difficulty would be found, but no compromise seems possible now. When the more clear-headed Liberals realised that the Ulster Unionists were in earnest, and that to force tho Home Rule Bill into law would be to plungo Ireland into the throes of a bitter civil war and sign the death warrant of the Government, a strong movement to the rear "was organised. Lord Loreburn's letter was the first indication of Liberal uneasiness, and it was followed up in October by Mr Churchill with a public plea for a settlement by consent. Mr i tfihurchfll went bo far as to suggest tno ■ exclusion of Ulster from the Bill. Subsequently Mr Asquith, in a epecch at Ladybank, suggested a nexchange of Views, and Mr Konar Law replied that i the Unionists were ready to discuss any proposals that might bo made. Each advance, however, towards a reasonable exploration of the prospects of a compromise was followed by and

often violent, speeches by Nationalist leaders. Mr Redmond, in fact, has imposed his veto upon the Government quite as harshly as if he were a House of Lords. He has no love for, and no interest in, tho Radical policies of the Cabinet, and ho should therefor© be specially willing to submit the question of Home Rule to tho electorate. He has not even the poor excuse that Lloyd-Georgeis-i might bo wrecked. There are means still left whereby the Government can be forced to go to the country: the House of Lords may refuse to pass the Army Annual Bill and other necessary measures. But while almost anything may be justiried which will avert the great evil of civil war, it is not likely that the House of Lords will be very willing to take such an extreme step. The outlook is not one which will cause any pleasure at all to any true friend of Ireland, or of what is bp-'t in the Nationalist movement.