IRELAND'S CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 7

IRELAND'S CRISIS.

MR. BALFOUR SPEAKS. APPEAL TO ELECTORS URGED. AN ATROCIOUS POLICY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Rec. September 8, 0.20 a.m.) London, September 7. Mr. A. J. Balfo'ir, formerly Leader of tho Opposition, in a speech at Haddington, said tho endeavour to carry Homo Rulo whilo tho House of Lords was in its present suspended condition was no accident,' but part of a plan to pass laws over tho heads of the peoplo and against their mil and oousidered judgment. Whon the plan was devised the loyal feeling in North-East Ireland had been in nowise realised. Tho Government was not aware that union with Britain and freedom from domination by tho rest -of Ireland was regarded by Ulster not merely as of speculative interest or preference, but as a matter of life and death. They now knew how' deep and immovable was tlio settled conviction of _the Ulstermen. • The Government • might appeal to the country befor.e passing Homo Rulo or after it became law, but before it came into operation. The first course might not reconcile Ulster, but would make it impossible to say that Ulster was the victim of . a revolution upon which the people had not been consulted. It had been rumoured that the Government had hitherto been inclined to the second course, but he would not believe until forced to do so that tho Government was capablo of such gross political immorality. "If the country favoured Home Rule it would say bo if consulted. If the country was against Homo Rule he could not conceive a policy so atrocious as refusing it the opportunity to- pronounce on tho Bill until all passion 9 had been aroused in the _ North and South of Ireland, a.nd until all the administrative inconveniences had occurred which -weiro inevitable if the Bill wero •repealed after it had been passed and the whole temper of the country was at fever