LION HEARTS OF ULSTER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13171, 3 September 1913, Page 9

LION HEARTS OF ULSTER.

FIERY SPEECH OF SIR. EDWARD CARSON.

LONDON, July 29. The Government is watching with undisguised anxiety the movements of Sir Edward Corson and his supporters m Parliament, who, having finished the work of the session at Westminster, have betaken themselves to Ulster m order to perfect the organisation for the purpose of offering resistance to Home Rule.

An incident yesterday at an open-air meeting at BaJlynahinch, County Down, indicates the volcanic character of the atmosphere. Earl Clonmell, a Home Ruler, recently declared that a little shrapnel would soon drive the Ulster crowd back to their armories. Dealing with this utterance, Earl Clanwilliam said amidst rapturous cheers: — "Aii I will say to Lord Clonm3ll and anyone else who indulges m such fatuous and ill-considered remarks ia this-. The first shot fired here by order of his Majesty's Government against the loyal men and women of Ulster may light the torch of civil war, which will not easily be quenched. Civil war is very contagious. You cannot have civil war m Ulster without civil war m England. If you have civil war m Ulster it will soon span the narrow sea that divides England and Ireland. Those who are responsible will be very ill-advised if they consider that Ulster's opposition can be dealt with m this manner. If civil war results His Majesty's Government and its supporters will be swept into the abyss of social and political infamy for committing an aofe which is the most atrocious conceivable, and which will stink; m the nostrils of generations to come."

At a meeting held at the foot of Edna Valley Hill, where a battle between the rebels and the crown forces m 1798 resulted m a defeat of the rebels, amongst the flags decorating, the platform was a blue ensign with the red hand of Ulster m the centre of nine stars, the latter being intended to represent the number of counties m Ulster, of which several are, of course, Nationalist. Sir Edward Carson was one of the speakers, and aroused immense enthusiasm. He said that shortly after midnight four' of the despatch riders at Tynan Abbey had left camp, and on their .return announced that they had placed on the banks of the Boyne a Union Jack. They had placarded underneath it the following notice : —

"Rebel hands may tear down this flag, but they will never tame the lion hearts of Ulster."

Tremendous cheering greeted this announcement, hats and handkerchiefs beiiigi waved. Sit. Edward then continued : "The imagination of man can hardly strain itself sufficiently to see two opposing forces going into battle each singing "God Save the K3ng," and each with their eyes on the old Union Jack. (Cheers.) It is horrible to think of it, but it is no less horrible than that the soldiers of the King should fibre upon our community wherein abide his Majesty's, most faithful subjects. We are going to set up what has been called, for the sake of brevity, a provisional government. If anyone interferes with that it will not be our fault. Our provisional government must prevail, or the Government must put it down with a strong hand. What, then, would be the feeling of their people? It would be a lesson m treachery upon the part of the British Government which would be taught m our schools, homes and workshops from -generation to generation." (Loud cheers.)