IRISH NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 44, 13 June 1914, Page 4

IRISH NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS.

Reports in Irish newspapers show that the “National Volunteer” movement has developed very rapidly and that it has been associated with some plain speaking,, the Lyttelton Times remarks. The Nationalists have accepted the challenge thrown down by the “Ulster Covenanters,” and although Sir Edward Carson and his army have a long start in drill and organisation, the National Volunteers will be an effective force before many months have passed. There was a great gathering at Tullamore the other week for the purpose of forming a “King’s County Regiment,” and the speakers included Sir Roger Casement and Professor T. M. Kettle, of Dublin University, who have both been prominent in connection with the Nationalist reply to Ulster militancy. “The Irish people have played the game constitutionally and according to the rules drawn up by their enemies,” said Sir Roger. “They have played the game loyally and faithfully and are within sight of winning. But now their enemies say they are not going to play it that way at all. There is an appeal to force. Well, two sides can appeal to force, and th© first duty of the Irish Volunteers may be to protect and safeguard an Irish Parliament on the soil of Ireland. We have got to make it impossible for the Irish people to be deprived by trick or artifice of what they have won by law.” Sir Roger Casement seems not unlikely to be the Carson of the Nationalist army.