LONDONDERRY’S VERDICT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8344, 3 February 1913, Page 6

LONDONDERRY’S VERDICT

It will bo quito interesting to sed how anti-Liberalism, official and unofficial, explains the verdict of th© Londonderry City electorate recorded in our cable nows this morning. This supposed garrison of Carsonitis, this stronghold of Unionism in “ united Ulster,” this nursery of the loyal Prentice boys of Derry, lias elected a Nationalist after a Conservative had hold tho seat for more than a dozen years I After all tho boasting about the “million determined Ulstermen ” (existing only in tho fertile imagination of Toryism) who would not have Homo Rule at any price—who would dio first, ii» fact —Londonderry is Liberal, Londonderry stands for self-government. Thai gates of the walled city have opened to patriotism and reason. The Tories have been yelling themselves hoarse with the demand that tho Homo Rule issue should be “ put to the people.” Here is their answer. The question has been submitted to an Ulster constituency, and tho majority has given a magnificent reply. Wo may expect to find tho exasperated Tories endeavouring to extract some cold comfort from tho fact that tho majority secured by Mr Hogg, tho successful candidate, hi only 57. They are entitled to whatever satisfaction that may give. As a fact, Londonderry is notorious for closely-fought elections, and Mr Hogg’a margin has only been exceeded twica in tbo last thirty years. However, tho main thing is that tho friends of Ireland have captured a seat from tho enemy in its very stronghold, at su time when tho nation has been invited by the delegates from tho poor Dukes of Britain to rivet its attention on. Ulster and observe how very strongly and bitterly the people there resent tho notion of Irishmen managing Disk affairs. The result of this 'election is tho more significant through following immediately on tho rejection of th© Homo Rule Bill by the House ot Lords. Tho contest cannot bo explained away very easily by the Tories, whs are debarred from even saying it was a question of Catholics versus Protestants, since Mr Hogg is a Presbyterian. It was a straight-out fight oa tho principle of Home Rule.