HOME RULE THREATS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1517, 13 August 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE THREATS.

i MR. CHURCHILL RETORTS. SHARP BATTLE OP WORDS WITH MR. BONAR LAW, THE APPEAL TO VIOLENCE. By Teleerapli—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 12, 10.15 p.m.) London, August 12. Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of tho Admiralty, iu a letter to the chairman of tho Liberal organisation at Dundee, deals with tho llomo Kule question., and refers at some length to tho t'i'.Aits of civil war made by Jlr. lion ar Law, leader of tho Opposition, but not, he declares, bccause Mr. Bonar Law is likely to carry them out, or because there is no remedy if ho did. Mr. Churchill adds that Mr. Bonar Law has declared there is no length to which Orangemen might go in resisting, "not tyranny or ill-usage, mark you, but Homo Rule, which ho would support." Mr. Bonar Law had also argued that Home Rule was not an issue at tho Inst election. This was untrue. Tho Unionist Leader's doctrines wero fatal to tho ovolution which had been proceeding during th 9 last two generations toward consolidation and reconciliation, tending toward Homo Rule within tho Empire for all its people, establishing their rights, respecting their creeds, honouring their traditions, and enabling all to stand together in high comradeship, with their freedom unbroken in tho hour of trial. Mr. Bonar Law's doctrines had not only been pernicious in external affairs, but his counsels of violence and mutiny might not bo unattractive to many millions of very poor suffering toilers in tho slums at Home, who on hearkening to them might bo lured to their own and the public disaster. The doctrines embodied in Mt. Bonar Law's Blenheim speech were identical with Jlr. Tilletfs at Tower Hill, but Mr. Tillett's men were starving. The present talk of civil war emanated from one side alone. But wero Homo Rulo frustrated Mr. Bonar Law within twolvo months would possibly be sending Irish Nationalists to servitude or tho gallows and be holding threo provinces of Ireland in tlvo grip of tho Coercion Act in the namo of tho samo law and order ho was now recklessly trampling uiider foot.

The Govornment would pursue its path patiently and soberly until its work was done. The transference of power to its successors would not be effected by violent means, and would not occur until Mr. Bonar Law hall divested himself of doctrines disqualifying him for official responsibilities, doctrines by which every lawless or disruptive movement in any part of tho Empire could bo justified, a.nd from which every street bully with a brickbat, and every crazy fanatic fumbling with a pistol might derive inspiration.