BELFAST AND HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 6

BELFAST AND HOME RULE.

Sir,—ln your issue, of this date you publish a long extract from an article written by Mr. T. P. O'Connor, the wellknown eminent Irish journalist, for whom I have great respect, and enjoy what he writes on most things, except the subject under review. 1 think lam entitled to say his passion for Ireland's nationality blinds him to , -view tho present position wisely, and his conclusions I hold to be erroneous. Ho uses tho phrase "Orange" Belfast for the purpose of gaining sympathy from those who dislike what, to them, appears fanatical or intolerant. Mr. Gladstone was apt to see things in that way when it suited him, but yet lie. wrote "Tho Vatican." ' Human nature is generally liberal in that wny when it costs nothing. I venture to submit that Mr. O'Connor's statement of facts establishes conclusively that things are so well at present they should be allowed to go on. Tho "Church" trouble is- settled'since 1871. Tho landlords are also "settled." The Homoßulo priesthood and tho clever agitators, who havo hitherto found a profitable occupation in slandering Great Britain, or, should I say, England, all over tho world, they, very 1 well knowing the game is almost played out, remain "to be settled;" They are tho real ghosts in tho tragedy—for tragedy it undoubtedly is. The average, decent fanner in , Ireland to-day is in such a splendid position that ho may well be envied by those of all other countries under the sun. The Liberal party became so impoverished that the Home'Rulo vote was its life blood, and hence, step bv step, it tottered into the very arms of Mr. Redmond, whom I do not blame ono I ■bit for demanding his full price for ex-, tending the life of the "very sick man" a yonr or two. But, unfortunately, in assenting to Mr. Redmond's terms, the "very sick patient" assigned over to tho doctor as part payment that whic.i \elonged not to him—even the political rights and liberty of over a million, of the cream of his neople as so much goods und chattels. It is a huge mistake to write of Belfast or Ulster as "Oj-ange." The institution is there in very considerable strength, but they arc a small portion of the entire oommunitv, and even Mr. Gladstone, in declining to receive a deputation from the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, referred to them as "Orange," when, in fact, there was not an Oranraman among them. But thoso outside the Orange Institution are quite 'as strongly against Homo Rule, for tho best nf all reasons They well know that their liberties and privileges and industry are safe at present, but would not continue so under Home Rule, and fhev are better judges than neonle outside Ireland, or evon_ men like Mr. T. P. O'Cbnror. who'e passion for Ireland as a "nation" I do hot condemn, but since tlie Tri«h Parliament was absorbed by Great Britain so far back, and evr-.rv Yes Mere of injustice removed, it would be disastrous fo'Grout Britain herself to go bnck on tho matter. By all means, if there remains opnortunitv for further holninp old Ireland b a still higher level. let it be ilnne, but liavincr planted a colony in .Uls'ier io RfreiiTlhen' hor position, and give the naHve Irish n friendly Jcarl by M>l>?r im?iisIrv. and decent, ro.nd iieisbboursbin. which they have admittedly done fnr many generations, and now that the T.iVnrnl party has to be bomitv fed Ijy Irish Homo -Tinlors .(wlm.«i> election has b»on mo'.M in fear and terror of life or loss of all properly) to hamr on to political nower. tho loyal, indnslr'o««. God-fearing, Sabbath-loving people nf UlMcv must bo sacrificed, no matter what the eur=e may l>o that, will snrelr follow; for, ht> it clearly understood, if it be true Mint (here would be much rejoicing anion? the overseas peoples of the Empire. In- far the plater number would be intensely pwv"(l, and Hip fine spirit that »ow *xi?ts between the Motherland, and themselves would receive a M-i'ifUs shoe , ;. *'io"rh no doubt they would love !!"> AMW still, but it would ho ah indci'ble stain en «. nn«l; mnenifuvnt histnrv.—T n»i. of<. HIBERNIAN OF THE BLUE TYPE.