THE ULSTER LEADER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 9

THE ULSTER LEADER.

To'the October number of the "National Review" Mr. T. Coteyn-Platt, whq lias been closely associated with Sir Edward Carson in tho present AntiHomo Rule campaign, /contributes a, highly-appreciative character sketch of the Ulster leader. Ho dwells upon the courage and perseverance which Sir Edward Carson has shown throughout his career at the bar and in public life, but points out thai to these qualities ho also adds a kindly charm of manner that appeals oven to his strongest political opponents. Without being cantankerous or overbearing, he has ail his life been, combative. Having once made up his mind as to tho Tightness, of a certain course of action,' nothing will induce him to deviate from that course, He fought the Parliament , Act- to the bitter end, and on occasion in the Bouse of Commons bad no hesitation hi resisting Mr. Balfour and they rest of his party, to the grace prejudice of his own cha-nees of high office. . During , his youthful days in Dublin be had a hard fight to win recognition., and a Jjyelinobd at the Irish Bar, but he was an indefatigable worker. "For the first few years," says Mr. Comym-Platt, "ho simply devoured law boolss night- aiid day. When, later' On', an occasjotial brief was offered to hitn, np matter how trifling the case, he worked at it as if his whole. existence depended on the result." It was during Mr. Balfour's memoTftblo Chief Secft-tafysJiip that.-he. first began to niake a name for himself. Boycotts, murders-, and cattle-maiming Were then rife in Ireland, and Mr. Carson, as he then was, showed of what stuff bo waS tirade fa fna fearless conduct of the prosecutions for the Crown. Week after week, month after-month, lie travelled through the most disturbed districts of the country, carrying his life in his hands, He Was inundated with threatening letters, and men who dared to speak to hihi were promptly boycotted.

So threatening did miitteis become during one trial that .an. attempt wits made to break up the Court, and for elos:e upoa five, minutes the young Prosecutor stood at the table, revolver in hand, to defend himself. On another occasion, when, as. the. result of a stormy trial, several-men-: had befcn ■eonvkfecl' and! sentenced, tho crowd outside the court-house became so violent that the Crown Prosecutor was advised by tho constabulary oil duty _to got aVay by. the back entrance. Shillelaghs andstonos were in.the air, and a serioiij riot seemed . imminent. Mr. Carson watched the storm from, the court windew until the police declared that .they could not bo responsible for his safety if ho stayed. Accordingly ho took his ■departure,, but not by tho bsrek doflr. Telling tho officials on. duty that "the King's highway was made for all, n.nd that' bv it he would go or liot at all," he went out to the excited crowd, with nothing but a stick in his hand. The infuriated mob. was breaking, like a rrmgh sen oft the steps of the courthouse, where .1 lino of constabulary guarded the door. Shrieking women filled the windows on all sides, and sh.otte.rs of stones were falling. For a moment Mr. CJarsM) stood cm .the stops actinuing the sea. The mob recognised jiiin and began to shaut, <B l'o hell with Carson," but -coolly and deliberately he walked down the steps, and, strange to say, a silence ensued, during which a pass-age through the crowd' opened out, ami Mr. Carson wnlked through it to bis hotel unhurt. The dismtoicstedMess of his present campaign is proved, by tho fact that he is making enormous pfo.fjpssional sacrifices m order to prosecute it. According to Mr. Comyu-Platt, ho is moved by an "absolute and indelible cottviction that Home Italo will bo the denthknell of all that lie cares for.inosfc in the world," and is "prepared willingly and gladly to' sacrifice everything, brave anything, and if necessary pay with his life for the ca-ttse he is chaa-