HOME RULE CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1798, 10 July 1913, Page 5

HOME RULE CRISIS.

WHY ULSTER IS DRILLING,

SIR E. CARSON ON RESISTANCE,

Tho second chapter in Ulster's campaign against Homo Rule was opened in Belfast on May 17 by Sir Edward Carson. In tlio afternoon" a meeting of tho Standing Committee of tlio Ulster Unionist Council was held, tit which, it is understood, measures wero discussod for further resisting Home Rule, and in tho evening Sir ,13. Carson opened a drill-hall in connection with tlio Willowfield .Unionist Club. The "Daily Mail" correspondent slates that tho Irish Unionist leader, who recently lost his wife, had another royal progress through the streets, which were thronged with cheering people. Ho was • escorted by club members marchin*; four deep, and the route to tho drill-hall was gaily decorated with Union Jacks. Tho of the building bore tho illuminated inscription, "Ulster will light." Inside tho hall an audience of about MOO people, representing all classes in-tho community, roso and sang "Rule, Britannia" when Sir Edward Carson, Lord Londonderry, and tho Duko of Abercom ascended tho platform. A Groat Crisis. Lord Londonderry, who presided, eaM tlicv wore gradually approaching a great crisis. If Homo Rulo were carried it would bring poverty and iniserj.- to Jcjy land and tlio result must bo civil war. Ho asked tliem to restrain themselves ami do nothing unworthy of tho name o£ Ulstermen. Their leaders would not desort them. Sir Edward Carson said: Heaven knows, my ono affection left to mo is my love of Ireland. (Loud cheers.) When I undertook the leadership of tlio Irish Union, ist Party I Bald, "1 dedicate myself to your service whatever may happen," and no ono can foresee what will happen, but through whatever times wo may go n niuli must liave fortitude to carry through his promises, and 1 am here to dedicate lnj'. self to you again. (Loud cheers.). Hero in this hall you oau tako all steps that are nocessary to train yourselves us loyal subjects of tho King-(cheers)—devoted to tho King and to the existing Constitution, and if any man should dare to tamper with that Constitution—which God forbid—well, then, you have room lioro to band' yourselves together and show that, wherever else, apathy, carelessness, disregard of tho Constitution, may exist, wo'will not havo it here, and wo will defend ourselves with that might and right that our Creator has iiiiplautcd iu us. (Great cheering.), I am sometimes nsked, "What aro your paoplo in Ulster drilling for?" (Laughter.) Well, I will tell them through tho press,so that it may reach the ears of tlicsu • ignorant people who think wo are a lot of babies playing a kind of gamo for soni« political part. Wo do not car© about political parties, excepting in so far as they support tlio Union. We sink our Radicalism, our Socialism! wo sink everything, Wc will not hare Home Rulo. (Prolong* <id cheers.) AVhy are wo drilling? I want to statu this explicity. Wo have not sought a quarrel with anybody; wo have not askcxl lor anything; wc have made no selfish demand All wo ask is to bo left alone. (Cheers.) If, therefore, -wo aro drivon to a policy of resistance—God knows wo aro not asking for it—those who drive US to it must take upon themselves tho responsibility. Wo seek nothing but elementary rights implanted in every manj tlio right, if you are attacked, to defendyourselves. / ■ Force the Last Resort. When wo talk of forco—and I do nob' know of a better emblem of forco 'accompanied.with discipline than a drill hall— when wo lay our plaus for tho' future',' always remember this about forco—it is only to bo used in tho last resort, nob for tho purpose of obtaining any selfish, benefits or ascendancy, nor for tho purpose of oppression. But weuso it, if wo aro driven to uso it, to boat back those who would daro to barter away thoso elementary rights ' of citizenship which wc have inherited, and which it is our duty and trust to hand ou unimpaired) to our children. (Cheers,) , Tho Government seems to liave forgotten the Covenant. (Hero Sir Edward pro* duccd a copy of it amid loud cheering, mingled with a shrill Luglo call.) People on tho other side of tho water aro asking what Ulster is going to do. (Voicesi "Fight, fight," and cheers.) Well, 1 do not put it in that way, but I always give tliem the snmo answer. Ulster is • going to stand by the Solemn Leagin x and Covenant. (Cheers.) I am asked, "What aro you doing now?" (Voice i "Getting ready.") I tell these people that' since tho Covenant was signed wo in' Ulster have never stopped day or night' making such preparations as will enablo us firmly, determinedly, and with success to carry out tho Covenant. (Cheers.)

Statute of Ananias.. . Go on burning the Home Rule Bill. It lins been condemned by everyone. I and my colleagues do not recognise tho Parliament Act, which is known among lawyers as the statute of Ananias. Tlioro is ■ some talk about compromise, liut for myself I would say that if tho time ever domes when the peoplo of Ulster think it.is hotter to coinpromiso for any reason I must .stand aside, because I never could under any circumstances bo a pirtj to compromise. (Loud cheers.) The Irish Unionist Parliamentary Party will exhaust every constitutional mean's In their power t<J avert so grout a .disaster ag a resort to force. If tho Government want to tost the legality of anything .wo in Ulster aro doing let them not attack tlio htimblo men. I am responsible for cvl>ry. thing, and they know where to find 1 mo. (Tumultuous cheering.) I have only this to adfl: Go' on; bo ready. You aro our great army. It is on you wo rely. Under what circumstances you liavb to conio' into action you must leave with us. We will select tho most opportune methods of, if necessary, taking over ourselves tho whole government of this community in which wo. livo, (Chcore.)