CIVIL WAR URGED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 491, 14 August 1912, Page 5

CIVIL WAR URGED.

I BY BONAR LAW. IF HOME RULE CARRIED. By Telegraph..—Press Association.--Copyright London, Monday. In a letter to the chairman of the Liberal organisation in Dundee, Mr Winston Churchill deals at some length with the threats made by Mr Bonar Law, leader of the Unionist party, in his recent speech at Blenheim Park regarding Home Rule in Ireland. He saya that he does not give the threats this attention because he thinks that Mr Bonar Law is likely to that Mr Bonar Law is likely to carry carry them out or because there would be no remedy if he did.

[ Mr Churchill remarks: "Mr Bonar Law declares that there are no lengths to which Orangemen might not go in resisting, not tyranny and ill-usage, mark you, but Homo Rule which ho does not support." It was argued by Mr Law, Mr Chruchill proceeded, that Home Rule was not an issue at the last general election, but in this he is not correct. Mr Law's doctrines were he said, fatal to the evolution which haa been proceeding for the last two generations towards consolidation and reconciliation, which tended to make Home Rule possible for all the people within the Empire, and to thus establish their rights with respect to their creeds and honour to their traditions, and thereby to enable them all to stand together in a spirit of high comradship and unbroken freedom in the hour of trial.

Continuing, he said that Mr Bonar Law's doctrines were particularly pernicious as he counselled violence. Mutiny might not be unattractive to many people. The very poor suffering toilers in the slums at Home who hearkened to such advice might be lured to their own and the public's disaster.

Mr Law's doctrines, as embodied in his recent speech at Blenheim Park, were those delivered by Mr Ben Tillett at Tower Hill during the recent dockers' strike, but with the difference that Mr Tilleft's men were starving.

The talk of civil war, Mr Churchill went on to say, emanated from one side alone, but were Home Rule frustrated Mr Bonar Law, within twelve months, might possibly be sending Nationalists to penal servitude or the gallows and be holding three of the provinces of Ireland in the grip of the Coercion Act in the name of the same law and order that he now so recklessly trampled upon. The Government would pursue its path patiently and soberly until its work was done. The transference of their power to their successors would not be effected by violent means, and not until Mr Law divested himself of doctrines which diaqua'ified him for official responsibilities. By means of such doctrines as those preached by Mr Law every lawless or disruptive movement in any part of the Empire could be justified, and from them every street bully with a brick bat and every crazy fanatic fumbling with a pistol might derive inspiration.