THE ERA BEFORE RAILWAYS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12727, 22 December 1915, Page 8

THE ERA BEFORE RAILWAYS.

Durinti a speech made at a Nationalist Convention in Dublin, Mr John Redmond made the admission that Sir Edward L'arson'ii army of Ulstermen, which used to be satirically referred to as '•Carson's Circus,'' is now at the front.

Mr •). Redmond presided over a assembly ef delegates from the various Nationalist organisations and local u-pix-lientative botlies, and resolutions were passed expressing confidence in the Irish uartv, and "unalterable determination to car.vv un the fight tor a Parliament in College Green until it is sitting and legislating for us here at home," and calling l'ur-.all Nationalist organisations to bo kept in iu'lL working vigour. ' Mr Redmond said we werj living m critical times. No one had the smallest doubt as to how the war would end, and no one doubted that the end -would mean the inauguration of an autonomy in Ireland. "It should be made clear that our pol:-tk-al organisation and discipline in Ireland must be maintained. It would be reckless folly to do othciwia-?. No one can tell the moment when the gravest political i-isues wid arise. _ .

The existence of ths present Coalition Government is precarious. It is threatened with internal as well as external danger.-, and at the present moment a rich and powerful conspiracy menaces its very existence. We in Ireland have ntcud 'oyally bv the Coalition. There are no commercial and there will be no political strifes m Ireland. _ ,

"All the world admits what- Ireland had done for the Empire during this war. Lord Kitchener himself admitted it in his letter, though it came rather late." In reply to an interruption, "What about Carson's army?" Mr Redmond s;.id, "Don't interrupt. "Carson's aimy is at the front ;at.the present moment." Ireland, he stated later, has ui'o.iied 81,000 recruits. They were bound in

honour to send necessary reserves to support the sallaiit men \vho had gone into danger. lie ventured te say they v-oitk: do it- if proper businesslike methods were adopted. It would not do to attempt -,o bully or drive jieojile into enlisting.