Levin Debating Society.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 May 1914, Page 3

Levin Debating Society.

ULSTER'S TROUBLES

The opening debate of this year's session of the Levin Debating- Society was held in tho Taieri lea rooms on Tueselay evening. There was a good attendance, the ladies being- well represented. The Rev. A. C. Panderson presided, and in a few preliminary remarks stated that Shannon, which had a very flourishing- society, would come and debate with Levin in a fort-night's time. This would tend to foster and further interest in the society. They had societies for pleasure and for profit, and they should be able to run a society to help intellectual development. The question for debate was: "Is Ulster .justified in her present attitude to the Imperial Government?'' Mr A. J. Harding, in taking the affirmative, said it was necessary to look at the matter from two aspects. First, is the contemplated action of the Ulster patriots constitutional? and secondly is their present action right? The J United Sfates of America had a

written cinstilution, and the or-

iginal document was to be seen at the present time in (ha country.

in Australia there was also a

written constilutieui. Sometimes some of I lie States of tiiose feelerations had found some of the provisions of the constitution irksome and had endeavoured to have it amended in a constitutional manner. All modem Govern-

incuts--■Governments formed in recent times had written constilu'ions. in Ireland or Great Britain there never was and was not at present such a thing as a constitutional document, therefore there was no constitution to break and Plstcr's action could not be regarded as unconstitutional. As for the second aspect as to whether they were right no philosopher had ever yet satisfactorily settled the question as to what was riu'ht or what was wrong. After all the years of their boasted civilization the primeval nature of man was altered very little, and self-preservation remained the yreat natural law of all. Tho individual was also impelled to preserve the species, and this ran through groups and some hoped that when the milemiium arrived it would embrace all mankind This law had caused groups to draw together, and any clan or tribe could withdraw from such a group providing that their withdraAval caused no injury to those remaining in the group. This did not apply to those that had hound themselves under a written constitution. Ulster, by her , silence in the past, had allowed herself to he involved m Ireland, Great Britain, and tin; British Umpire, and had profiled thereby, but had decided that as if was no longer to their interest to remain in, and wished to withdraw. "Ulster was born free and equal, and was at liberty to withdraw without detriment to other people. If anyone s altered it would be VI. sler herself.

.Mr T. G. Vincent, for the negative, said that in such a debate (he question of Home Pule must be brought in. They had been witnessing a pageant of political machination in the United Kingdom to oust a political party, and responsible men were prepared to break or ignore all constitutional methods in order to attain that and defeat Home PuJc All Englishmen agreed (hat Home Pule was good, for Finland; we found it good for ourselves, why should it not be good lor Ireland.

l! was recognised that Ireland Mas the greatest blot in lh'itish history. There was never any brotherhood between Ireland and England. In Ulster there were 800,000 people who wanted to rule the rest of Ireland, and now, finding that- attitude no longer tenable, they wanted severance,. If they succeeded, were the other 700,001) who live in Ulster to be cast off. Ulster was prepared to give Home Rule to the other three province's of Ireland in which lived people with the same beliefs as Ulsternien. Granted that (he Nationalists might have been disloyal what about 'those who were prepared to plunge the country into civil war':" ]f '[lister was given her way the whole of Ireland would be aflame. The grievances of Ulster might be great but he thought that did not justify the people of the province creating a greater wrong. There wci-o •'!•'{ Ulster representatives in the Imperial Parliament and IT of these were Home Rulers. All Jaws meant the restriction 'if someone's liberty. The Right lion. A. J. Ralfour had said that it was the duty of all people to obey the law. ' True, there was no written constitution thai Ulster could break, but there were laws < lutt could be broken. Any group within a country must abide by the laws <,f f hat count rv. Mr 11. 11. C.uk said that Ulster was not going to stop Home Rule, she would not lie compelled to come under an Irish Parliament. As for [(leading, they would never have been listened to, and, like the su H'ragclti's, had lo fake other measures. Ulster was being Inard at present. The British Government was afraid in take a I'm ward step as Hip country might be plunged into i-ivil war. (lister was ahead of all Hie other provinces, and would have to pay a greater amount of f.\es. Mr (!. P. Brown said Ihe question in another form was whether Ihev were to have law or anarchy. As for the voice of Ulster, at a bv-eb'clion held in Ulster some twelve months ago a Home Ruler

J was returned for a seat previously held by a Unionist, and now the majority of members in Ulster was for Home liule. 1.1 the majority in Irelaud and in Ulster wanted Home Rule what was the minority voice of Ulster against it? The Pev. H. T. Steady said tliat the Ulster people would not :/: ! J!i> ■■■■■■. i a Dublin L'arlia- ; ••;: ; ■ ■ -'■ I:-ad and Wales were •■■"■ •!.'■ !iu ae Rule because lLc., u tlll i t -,; -nationalist support for their own measures. A referendum should be taken on the question. Mr 11. 13. Franco remarked that revolutions which succeeded were justified. The leaders of revolutions which failed were hang-ed. So meanwhile he kept an open mind on the Lister question. Mr Vincent, in reply, said that if Home Rule was successful in South Africa, where there lived two races which had been bitterly hostile to each other: and success. ful also in Canada, it would he a success in Ireland.

Mr Harding- said that the legislators of Great Britain and Ireland did mil represent the people of those countries. They did not have adult suffrage. Ulster was not objecting- to Homo Pule, bill wanted Home Pule for herself; also Ulster did not want civil war, hut was simply preparing- for it. The chairman summed up the debate and the meeting- l>y vote decided that on (he arg-uincuts ad. vaneed the present attitude of Ulster towards the Imperial Government was not justified.

After the debate concluded (ho ladies present handed round refreshments.

At tho conclusion of the debate votes of thanks to Hie chair and to tho Misses McKe.n'.y for providing tea and coffee wovo carried.

All future debates will l>e held in the Taieri ten-rooms.