HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15520, 30 January 1914, Page 4

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

Sir, Your correspondent Rev. - A._ G. Clarke is very .much astray'in the views . he has expressed re England, Ulster, and the Home Rule question. When ha speaks i of the British Government being terrorised < into refusing the demand of four-fifths of , the Irish people because of the howls and j threats of an intolerant alien faction, the question arises of whom . does the writer 1 speak as intolerant howlers? Are your i readers to understand that Mr. Clarke is writing thus of the most level-headed businesslike people in the• whole of Ireland? The public must know that those opposing Home Rule in Ulster are thoughtful Presbyterians—the backbone of the country. Men who seldom' speak unless they must, and who never say what they do not intend to say. Men who, both intellectually and morally, are head and . shoulders above their average opponent. "When your correspondent writes of these honourable and loyal Britishers as fighting to retain power which they have hitherto usurped and abused, those who really ' understand something about the true state of affairs ! will not hesitate to say that these Ulstermen are being grossly misjudged. - With Mr. Clarke I agree in that these men do hold nearly every office of power. This,* however, is Only history repeating itself. Nations and peoples religiously free must always tower above those in bondageThat the ability is with the Ulster Protestant 110 one can deny, and to speak of all as abusing power honourably held is' both unfair and incorrect. Sir Edward Carson also, who dazzles and tantalises Home Rulers with his clave rriess and zeal, is misrepresented. Sir : Edward Carson, Sir Cbas.. Beresford, and scores of other intellectual giants, know full well that Home Rule would better the Irish people neither intellectually nor morally; though one's point of view is very narrow ati looks upon this question as being v Irish only. Would the giving of Home Rule to Ireland prove of any monetary gain to the .Empire? Would it assist the poor in their attempt to get . the necessaries of life? Fay! Should the Home Rule Bill be carried in its present form the British workingman " would be called upon •to maintain a cause in which he disbelieves. Every . English taxpayer, as head of a family, will have to' pay 15s lid annually for the- maintenance of Ireland under Home Rule, the chief causes of taxation being the army and navy and. Imperial expenses generally, to the upkeep of which services the Irish will be called, updn to contribute not one halfpenny. In the British Parliament Iceland will have . 42 representatives, and possess power to send over another batch whenever any question of Irish finance is discussed. " The expenses aro to be borne by-: the British workinsrman; whilst in the Irish Parliament Britain will have no ; representative at all. In closing allow me 'to say that the measure of a. man's belief in any cause is tested by the sacrifice he is prepared to make on its behalf. ;• Let us apply the test to the. Nationalist cause. The Irish people contribute less than a farthing per head, the balance. being . contributed by Irish Americans and others who desire the downfall of Protestant 'Britain. - Whereas thousands of brave UlsteTmen would sacrifice" their . lives if .necessary "rather than submit to laws which," if enacted,, would prove detrimental" to the highest and best" interests of the Irish people. .' . ... • Wm. Lea: Paeroa, January, 23, 1914. :r "One of the Crowd" and "A.E.G." have neglected to" send name and address.