SIR EDWARD CARSON

Evening Star, Issue 15076, 7 January 1913, Page 6

SIR EDWARD CARSON

A UNIONIST APPRECIATION, What manner of ma.n (asks the Irondon, Express) is fur Edward Carson, who today is the central figure in Ulster? Sir Edward is depicted by his political opponents as- a loud, bombastic person, with a taste for creating amateur revolutions; a ttnng of buckiam ; a masquerader • a purveyor of cheap treason, a „d fx> forth. No one in the world Jess resembles these mnhgn caricatures, which Sir Edward himself describes us “ manure to make his reputation grow.” Photographs of Sir Edward Carson are plentiful enough, but photographs have t-nsiv limitations. The Ulster leader is a born lighting man. He lias the long head the salient jaw, the alert and brooding ore of the fighter. The hands and feet are small; the figure lean-flanked and pliant ; although in middle-ngc it is stiffened somewhat, it is the make of the athlete. The, swarthy face lias a touch of the Dantesqne. singularly commingled with an aspect of the hanging judge. In repose, that dark and moving countenance wears an aspect of melancholy. It is the look of one who tins endured, much with constancy, who know* all that life has to give, and cannot be surprised. Rut when the mobile lips part in a smile, the whole face is illumined, and the tme and essential kindliness of the man shines forth. Indeed, tiiero is no kinder heart, none more generous Ho can lie implacable, but never malicious Ho -will hit straight and hit haid, but he w,ll never take an unfair adi antage. He is a staunch friend, an inlie 60,1 an architect i Dublin Sir Edward Carson chose to be -in advocate, and iron his way to the fop of his profession by cheer force of ability and industry. It was his destiny to be Crown Prosecutor in the wicked "davs of . Land League, of Fenianism. of Pa’rnellism. His life was perpetually in dancer - he was a marked man ; and h© is the. only member of the Bar who has twice beeii forced to draw a revolver in self-defence in open Court. His courage is imperturbable. His tenacity and coolness, his quickness. resource, and ingenuity gained the deep respect of bis enemies, who admire a man when they find one. just as they condemn the fool who attempts to conciliate them. It is remarkable that this bold, astute, and uncompromising leader has no real enemies. He is, of course, the object ot a good deal of conventional political anmiosi.y but that is merely part of tlm game. Ihere are . men in'political fife whom one could mention who inspire a leal hatred, let not one of these has the courage at the candor of Sir Edward Carson. Hardly one has said as many hard things of his opponents, or perhap's feels the same conviction of their knavery. \Miat is the reason? It is difficult to find i!? me - ltj but ' is the fact , e Ulftei ; leader owns that indefinable, arm rare gift which we call leadership. He adds to it an extraordinary power of dramatic expression. When lie rises to speak the long, lean, dark figure is poised upright, the tiger-like head is bent a- little forward, the sensitive lips quiver, the glistening, jiarrow eves composedly survey tae still audience. Ho begins quietly anil conversationally. The resonant voice thrills insistent like the string of a violin cunningly awakened. The • discourse marches orderly, from point to point, careless in style, yet sure of effect. 'Then there comes a moment when <« the man towers upon the assembly like a dark angc-1 ; his face is transformed ; and his hearers—even though they be dour Ulstermen- are shaken by the mack voice as bv a great wind.