THE HOME RULE BILL

New Zealand Tablet, 19 June 1913, Page 25

THE HOME RULE BILL

SECOND READING CARRIED The debate on the Second Reading of the Home Rule Bill in the House of Commons cam© off last week. An amendment by Mr. Balfour to reject the Bill was defeated by 368 to 270. The Bill was then read a second time and referred to the committee of the whole House. Sir E. Carson ,K.C., said that personally he hoped never again to discuss Irish Home Rule in the House of Commons, Mr. J. E. Redmond had rightly said that the present discussion was automatic. He and his friends declined to be automata. The people of Ulster were rightly preparing to resist. He would take all responsibility. The Government might seize their arms and send troops but it would never settle the Irish question by its Bills. Sir E. Carson was warmly cheered on re-opening the debate. There was a dramatic episode when he turned to Mr. Balfour and Mr. A. Bonar Law and said that Ulster’s cause was never stronger, because in the event of armed resistance, which God forbid, Ulster now

had the open declaration of the Unionist 'leaders that Ulster, was supported by, the whole force of the party. y Mr Redmond, in an eloquent speech, deprecated Sir E. Carson's violence. He said the Nationalists were willing to go to almost any length to conciliate reasonable apprehensions. He believed that what had happened in South Africa would happen in Ireland. That the passage of the Bill was eagerly awaited by the whole Empire was evidenced by the resolutions passed by the self-governing Parliaments and the opinion of overseas statesmen. Rebellion was threatened in four counties, but a rebellion of three-fourths of the Irish people, distracted, outraged, and betrayed, was too horrible to contemplate. .. Mr., Bonar Law taunted the Government and the Nationalists over the . bargain in connection with the 1909 Budget to prevent an appeal to the country. . Mr. Redmond and Mr. Asquith denied that there had been a bargain. At Glasgow Sir E. Carson advised his fellow.countrymen to arm themselves, in order to repel the attempt to filch.their elementary rights of citizenship. If violence resulted from, his speeches he was willing to be made responsible. His honor and his conscience were more valuable to him than a Privy Councillor's oath. He would prefer to be stripped of all honors in the service of his countrymen. Messrs John and Archer Redmond, Devlin, and Scanlan have opened a Home Rule campaign in Scotland. At the first meeting of the Nationalist campaign in Scotland Mr. J. E. Redmond declared that whenever enemies spread calumnies it was the Nationalists' policy to follow them hot-foot and dissipate the slanders. After touring Scotland Mr. Redmond proceeds to Leeds, Norwich, and Cardiff. The preparations for the welcome to Mr. Redmond and his party at Glasgow included a torchlight procession by 20,000 Liberals, and University students.