WILL ORANGEMEN FIGHT

Dunstan Times, Issue 1272, 16 July 1886, Page 3

WILL ORANGEMEN FIGHT

Mr William Johnston, M.P. for South Belfast, and a beputy-Orand Master of the Order of Orangeman in Ireland, whoge sal and activity as an Orange leader are matters of contemporary history, accorded an interview the other day to a representative of the ‘Pall Mall Gazette,’ who desired to ascertain the present position and attitude of the Orange party in Ireland. Mr John* ston is as mild-mannered a man as may be found in Parliament. In private conversation ho is modest, quiet, end calm ; and his personal sincerity is beyond doubt, as even the bitterest members of the Parnellite party acknowledge.

THB CHANCES 05 CIVIC WAR. I meat continually, ’’ said Mr Johnston, “with men who say ‘lf we believe in the danger of civil war wa should oppose Mr Gladstone ; but we don’t. ’ I tell them they are mistaken. I said twelve years ago on Mr Butt’s motion, in March, 1874 that an attempt to promote a separate Parliament would produce a civil war. The other day, when I was at Ballyuilbeg, a hundred men assembled to confer as to the best kind of arras they should secure, and I was to consult with some military gentlemen in Hugland as to the best means of defence.” ** Then you are free to carry arms in the North!”— *• There are certain districts pmclaimed.” S’rom what you say it would appear that the Orangemen are not armed ?” —“ No, we have net collected'arms as yet, except in fe few instances, because we don’t belie e that the people of England, when they are throughly aroused to complete nn derstanding of the matter will permit their fellow Loyalists in Ireland to be dealt with in the way proposed."

“ What help do you hope to obtain from Ireland ” f Wo received the other day a resolution in which 200,000 Orangemen in Canada pledged themselves to come to onr aid ; but as to prospects of help from England, Scotland, or elsewhere, I cannot at present give you accurate information. The fact is, the Home Rule idea has not yet been seriously entertaine 1 by the great bodies of people j it is looked upon as so perfectly chimerical that no one has thought of taking active steps to resist it." THE FOLIOY OF THE ORANGE PARTY. “ Wo will resist,” said •Mr Johnston at another moment, “ the enactments and de mauds of any Irish Parliament; and we will do so in the belief that we are acting not merely in the assertion of our own rights in Ulster and in defence of but in the best interests of the Crown, the Constitution, and the Empire, for we believe that if a separate Parliament he conceded a serious blow will have been struck at the honor and integrity of the Empire, and we would be placed under a foreign domination.”

“ Then I am to gather that if a separate Parliament is conceded, you will in no way « -cognise the fact; will take no part in the pturn of members,-to it; and when it proeeda to enforce its laws against you, yon will resist f” “Yes we would have nothing to do with it, but tho form of resistance would depend upon the overt acts of the Parliament. We could not, of coarse, initlw an invasion directed against thorn, but where they sought to reach us wo could drive them out. Of course you. will understand that 1 am only expressing my individual views ; but 1 am correct in saying that in expressing these views I express the feelings and intentions of all those with whom I usually co-operate."