WILL THE ORANGEMEN FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7650, 29 May 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

WILL THE ORANGEMEN FIGHT.

[k::om Till: l'\U, MALI, i.'.UETfE.I Mγ.. William Johnston, M.l', for .South Belfast, ami a Deputy Grand Master of the Order of Orangemen in Ireland, whose zeal and activity as an Orange 'leader are matters of contemporary history, accorded an interi reprencntativn of the Pall Mall (Jazotto, who desired to ascertain the present position ami attitude of tlio Orange party in Ireland. Mr. Johnston is a3 mildmannered a. man as may bo found in Parliament ; iri private conversation ho i; , . modest, quiet, and cr.lin ; and his personal -'Uγ. ,, -''" sincerity is beyond doubt, a? even the bitterest members of the L'anieihte party acknowledge. tiik ciia:;(,'i:s ok civil war. " I moot continually," said Mr. Johnston, with men who any, 'If wo believed iu the dauber of civil war we would oppose Mr. (Iladdtuue; but we don't.' L tell them they arc mistaken ; 1 said twelve yeara ago, on Mr. Butt's motion, in March, 187-t, that any attempt to promote a. separate; Parliament would produces civil war. The other nay, when I was at Ballykilbcso ci hundred men asacailiicd to coufcr as to the best kind of anus they should secure, and I was to consult with come military gentlemen iu England as to the beat means o: defence." "Th«u you arc free to cany anna iu the North '!" " ThiTO ate certain districts proclaimed." " From what yen bay it would appear that the Orangemen arc not armed?" " No, we have not collected arms as yet, except ia a few instances, because we don't beliece that the ptioplo of England, when they are thoroughly aroused to a complete under.. in:; of, ti-.o matter, will permit their fellow Loyalists in I round to be dealt with in the way proposed." " \V!w*t lislp do you hopo to obtain frem bovond Irel.ind ?" "Wo received the other day a resolution in which two hundred thoimnd Orangemen in Canada pledged themselves to come to our aid; but an to prospects of help from England, Scotland, or olaowiicrp, I cunnot at present givo you aoourato information. Tiiafactia, the Homo ilnlo idea haa not yet been seriously entert;'.incd by groat bodies of people ; i; ia looked upon as so perfectly chimerical that no one li'r.s thought of taking active steps to resist iL." Tin-; POLICY ok the OKiMtJli imrty. " We will retuit," said Mr. Johustou at another moment, "fcho enactments and dcmstiils of any Irish Parliament; and we will do so in the belief that weal'. , acting not merely in the assertion of our own rights in Ulater and in defence of I'roteetantixni, but :u thy bus. iuterestu of l.ho Crown, the Constitution, an.l tan Umpire, for wo believe that if a separate Parliament be conceded a serious blow will have been struck at tbe honour an i integrity of the Empire, and we would ha placed under a foreign domination." " Chen L am to gather that if a .separate Parliament is conceded you will in no way rcuoguisa the fact; will take no part in the return of members to it ; and when it proceeds to enfoicc it» laws against you, you will rosiiitV" "Yes; we would have nothing to do with it; but the form of resistance would de'v.nd upon the overt act.i of tho Parliament. We could not, of course, initiate an invasion directed against them, but whore they sought to reach uk we could drive them oat. Ot course you will understand that lam only expressing my individual views ; but I bolievu 1 am correct in :>ayinj> that in expressing these views I express t'io feelings and iutcutions of all those with whom i usually co operate."