An Empire peril.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1914, Page 5

An Empire peril.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. SAFETY OF THE MONARCHY. ( By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] L United Presb Association.] Londoiij February 9. The Chronicle urges Mr As'quith to I clear the air by making an early stateI nient regarding the offers made to (Mr Bonar Law, with a view to substantially adding to the Ulster tsafeI guard. ! The Karl of Ranfurly, addressing volunteers at Dungannou, .said the UlIstermen, in opposing Home Rule, were helping to sustain the King on {the throne, for jf the Bill passed and j civil war ensued, the increasing wave [of Socialism and Republicanism in [England and in the Cabinet might i overwhelm the Monarchy. However arduous the fight, Ulster must keep the flag Hying. The Empire would assuredly help her. The Premier of New Zealand, who belonged to Londonderry, was most anxious about the situation in Ulster. With the exception of Quebec, the majority of Canadians were on the side of Ulster. He bad received heaps of letters from Canadians pledged to render help when needed. The time had almost come for it, as they bad absolutely rejected Home Rule. The Government ought to pause and consider what the Ulstermen of other days had done when they were determined. A FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. Mr F. Oliver, in a pamphlet, contends that the Home Rule Bill should lie made federal in tendency, giving Ireland the powers of local government, similar to local governments in self-governing dominions, while reserving to the Imperial Parliament powers not less than reserved to the central governments in the Dominions. Ho suggests allowing Ulster to remain outside Home Rule until a federal system is created for the United Kingdom, whereby Ireland will l)e treated the same as England and Scotland. THE UNIONIST PARTY. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, February 9. Some of the Unionist newspapers hint that Mr Boririr Law (Leader of the Opposition)) intends to confine the Unionist attack to Rome Rule.

Other papers suggest that the Unionist, peers will endeavor to bring about" tlio Government's downfall by throwing out the Army and other necessary legislation.

''The Reconciliation of a Nation." \_ ( _ 1 _ Sir John Simon (Attomey-^ueneral), addressing a big meeting in the Fret Trade Hall,'Manchester, in November. inter alia, spoke, as follows: "After all the policy of Home Rulis not some new-fan gh*l invention suddenly by a political party >at a moment of surprise, without reference to its traditions, its pledges, or its past. Our party, right or wrong has been identified with tha Gladstoriian policy of'Home"- Rule—(cheers) —for a quarter of a century. Our opponents, in choosing their name by which they wish to be called, remind us of the fact that it in there as a dividing line between their views and ours. Our policy is supported by a clear majority of British representatives in the House of Commons—(cheers) ;—it is supported by four-fifths of the representatives of Freland—(cheers) ;—it is beyond question a policy which is not resented or regarded as alarming by the groat mass of our fellow subjects beyond the seas. Our policy has twice passed through House of Comomns by great majorities, majorities which were greater than the Irish vote in it favor, majorities which were far greater than the Unionist party though abundantly sufficient to justify a policy of Irish coercion. (Cheers.) Thanks to the Parliament Act, beyond all doubt, and beyond all question that Bill can, in the course of a few months, become law. (Loud cheers and some disturbance.) It is clear—and this is the point (Sir .John Simon proceeded)—that we have the power i and we are most clearly of opinion that we have the right. (Cheers.) il'ut T speak the language of sincerity when T say the object which we Rome Kulers have in view is not the defeat of a party, it is not the humiliation of a minority; it is the reconciliation of a nation. (Loud cheers.) However successful we might be in putting down resistance—and resistance to the law of the land could, of course, and would he put down—(cheers), —it would still be true that even then we should not have accomplished the full purpose which the friends of Ireland have in view. Every j well-wisher of Ireland must desire that, it the new form of government | he established, it may be established j with the acquiescence of the prosperous and hard-headed Protestants of j the North, and that it should start upon its career with the best prospects of permanence." (Cheers.)