RE-ASSURING STATEMENT BY PREMIER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20039, 24 March 1914, Page 5

RE-ASSURING STATEMENT BY PREMIER.

GOVERNMENT HOPES TO AVOID BLOODSHED.

A SERIOUS SITUATION.

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY MR

LLOYD GEORGE

GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO GO ON.

(United Press • Association —Copyright.; LONDON, Max. 22. Tlie Bight Hon. Lloyd George, speaking this afternoon at Huddersfield, said: — . " A grave issue had arisen in the history of democratic government. The country was confronted v.-ith the greatest issue since the Stuart period. Representative government was at stake. In answer to the question whether ' the progressive Bills "which the Tories opposed, were to be honoured or thrown into the waste-paper basket, he said that if Liberalism flinched an inch before those insolent and arrogant plagues it would be unfit to any longer be the instrument for the control of a great Empire, and it would be time they made way for & sterner and more highly-mettled body of, British progressives. The Government meant to confront this defiance of popular liberties with resolution and unwavering determination, whatever the hazard. Tho Government were not fighting about Ulster; they were fighting for all.that was essential to civil liberty. Orangemen professed to be shocked that force should be used

for the setting' up of a great, free, self-governing Parliament in Ireland, but when did Ulster acquire the detestation of coercion? Coercion pre-

sented no horrors when Orangemen

evicted Catholic peasant® for the nonpayment of extortionate rates. Ulster was a, spoilt child. She-had heard so m/uch about her volunteers that she

thought them something terrific. The Government's proposal was to give her time for the swelling to subside. The Opposition bad rejected the Governmentfs offer with contempt and indignation. As regards the referendum, the Opposition iiad one in 1910. He doubted whether the majority *c£ the Opposition were anxious for a settlement, for if the Ulster ti-ouble was settled they would have no policy left. Scurrility and tittle-tattle never .carried a party anywhere to te gutter.