ULSTER AND WAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1520, 16 August 1912, Page 5

ULSTER AND WAR.

A WARM CONTROVERSY. MR. CHURCHILL ON DOCTRINES OF VIOLENCE. REPLY TO MR. BONAR LAW. Bj Telegraph—Press Associatlon-CoDyrhtht (Rec. August 15, 10.15 p.m.) London, August 15. Mr. 'Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in a letter in the "Dundee Advertiser" in reply to the recent letter of Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposition, on the Home Uule question, says the incitements to violence and the threats of armed force stridently reiterated by Mr. Bonar Law and Sir Edward Carson, are cow apparently represented by those gentlemen as merely solemn warnings which are not to be translated into action. This bears a strong resemblance to bluff. The Liberals, however, cannot accept Mr. Bonar Law's reassurances, for although ho may not intend to bring about extreme consequences by his words and actions, tho position is far more serious than his explanations imply. "Mad Tactics," After, referring to tho importation of arras and tho drilling in Ulster, and quoting Mr. Bonar Law's recent Blenheim speech, Mr. Churchill says that these are mad tactics for the leader of a great party which, hopes soon to govern tho land. The speeches of Mr. Bonar Law and Sir Edward Carson were not a warning to the Government, but incitements to Orangemen, and—as the detestable in T cidents at Belfast proved—only too well interpreted by thoso to whom they were addressed. If a warning was all Mr. Bonar Law ought to give, was it necessary for him brazenly to countenance lawless doctrines?

"Miserable Quibbles." Mri Churchill contends that the extravagance and recklessness of Mr. Bonar Law's speccli and conduct, their disproportion to tho circumstances, and their precipitancy, aro foreign to the instincts of the Unionist party. He describes Mr. Bonar Law's references to certain Ministers' election addresses as miserable quibbles on which he seeks to justify his doctrines of rebellion.

Suppose the workmen in a desperate labour dispute declared that they would not recognise tho laws of a Parliament in which capitalistic influences were predominant, would they bo right? Suppose the Nationalists refused to recogniso tho Act of Union because it was carried by bribery aud corruption, or the men in Egypt said "You promised to go and would not," Mr. Bonar Law would come hot-foot to iriilict pains and penalties in such cases.

Sufficient Remedies. Mr. Churchill points out that many months must pass before Homo Rule can become law, and a lengthy period must intervene before it comes into operation. Then there will be a third lengthy and indefinite period before the slightest oppression, invidious treatment, or neglect can touch the Unionists of Ulster. .If the Orangemen are right—as the Liberals hold them wrong—in, the evil they apprehend from an Irish Parliament, it is certain that before they aro actually affected there must be another general election. Aro there not then sufficient remedies within the Constitution for their specific grievance? '

The bad example set by Mr. Bonar Law's doctrines, concluded Mr. Churchill,' will be imitated beyond the immediate controversy. He had drawn a blank cheque with an indefinite surrency against the Unionist party, the whole resources of which any ruffian or lunatic might present for payment! filled in by the hand of crime.

Mr. Churchill added: "Sir Edward Carson, is the moving spirit of an organisation which has openly avowed its intention to establish a provisional Government, namely, a Government' against the Crown and Parliament of these realms."

The Utmost Rigour. Thb-Government was closely watching Mt. Bo.l?,r Law and Sir Edward Carson. After refolding to Sir Edward Carson's speech in June, when ho declared that ho intended, when lie went to Ulster, to break every law possible and, let the Government tako what course •' it : ..liked, Mr. Churchill said'that in the event of disturbances in Ireland the Government would act with the utmost rigour, irrespective of the offender's position.