SPEECH BY THE CHANCELLOR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1914, Page 5

SPEECH BY THE CHANCELLOR.

ULSTER: THE SPOILT CHILD

"INSOLENT AND ARROGANT

PLAGUES."

(Received March 23, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Hudderafield, said that a grave issue had arisen in the history of democratic government. The country was confronted by the greatest issue since the Stuarts. Representative government was at stake. In -answer <t© a question whether the progressive Bills which the Tories ppposed Were to be honored or thrown into the wastepaper basket,' he said that if Liberalism flinched; an indh before those insolent and arrogant plagues it "would be unfit* any longer to be-the instrument for control of &. great Empire. It would be time it made way for a sterner and more highly-mettled "body of British progressives; The Government meant- to confront this defiance of popular • liberties with resolution and unwavering determination, what-' ever be, the hazard, They were not fighting about Ulster ;'tJhey wer-e fighting for all that was essential to civil liberty. Orangemen professed to he shocked that force should he used for the setting up of a great free selfgoverning Parliament in Ireland. When did Ulster acquire detestation of coercion? Coercion presented no horrors when Orangemen evicted Catholic peasants for non-payment of i extortionate rents. Ulster was a spoilt child. He had heard so much' about her volunteers that he thought them something teririfie. The Government's proposal was to give her time for the swelling to subside. The Opposition : rejected the Government's offer with contempt and indignation. As regarded the referendum tihe Opposition had had one in 1910. He doubted whether the majority of the Opposition Members were anxious for a, settlement. If the Ulster question wag settled they vrovM have no policy, left. Scurrility and tittle-tattle never carried a party anywhere except to the gutter.