Ulsteritis.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2318, 24 March 1914, Page 2

Ulsteritis.

The fever in_ the body politic in Ireland has risen so high that the patient seems to be in deadly peril. We have all along thought that both sides were putting up a game of bluff on the Home Rule trouble, and that the "feverish" state of feeling was a convenient phase of the agitators on both sides. For it has to be remembered that the Unionist Party is trying to force into power on a wave of popular feeling. They have no hope. But when a political party noted down through the ages for its peace-at-any-price policy seems to be calling out the troops and sending them on the march towards the seat of war, then something serious looks like happening. However, Premier AsquitE says there's nothing to it. The Ulsterman can stand quite as much talk as the other fellow, but when the troops come along he is likely to see red. And that is highly dangerous in a feverish man. Troops may come and camp and mark time—and go back again. So that danger may pass over. But a hot-head may do something when the troops are marking time—and then the dogs of civil war are let loose. Should it be an Ulsterman who fires the first shot Law-and-Order has right on its side for drastic measures. Should it be an Ulsterman who is shot down, then Sentiment is unlashed—and Orangemen from all the ends of the earth will take the first ship offering for the North of Ireland. It comes to us that quite a number of New Zealand Orangemen are at this moment in readiness to go to Ulster should circumstances warrant, in their opinionj such an expedition. The news which is just now burning the cables is feverish, but there must be a way out—a tonic of sensibility. Just how much of the fever is due to the worry of party politics and how much is due to religious mania it is difficult to diagnose. But Asquith the Astute waves his hand and says to Ulster, Be not afraid—nobody's going to hurt you ! And rumour has it that an immediate general election will be granted. But will that settle the Ulsterman? Not if it goes against him.