The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1914. THE HOME-RULE MUDDLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 20 February 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1914. THE HOME-RULE MUDDLE.

"'Confusion worse confounded" is the phrase that most aptly describes the course of the Home Rulo controversy. It has been made fairly evident by the King's Speech at the opening of Parliament that negotiations for an amicable settlement by tile leaders of political parties had been carried on, but tliat an "impasse" was readied. Now, it would seem, that a kind of "forlorn hope" is all that exists—a glimmering idea that ou the anvil of impassioned debate in the House of Commons a spark will be struck that will fire all hearts with a glow of patriotic friendliness and lead them to arrive at a happy solution of the dilliculty. We confess that this is a forlorn hope indeed. The spark that will be struck is more likely to hasten a general conflagration, leading to a general election—and more confusion. Meanwhile, Sir Edward Carson's cry is "No surrender!" The Ulsterroen and the English Unionists stand yfirmly by him, and swear by all their gods that they will never —never—never submit to be ruled by Irishmen. But Mr. 11. de Vcre Staepoole, an Irishman of ardent type, is equally emphatic in asserting that the rule of Irishmen is the only thing that will pacify Ulster. He says: •'The Ulstermen are Irishmen. We may cheat them and trick them and beat them as much or as little as our natures dictate; we may hate them with the hatred that flourishes so finely in families; but we are not going to let an Englishman or a Welshman or a Scotchman put a finger on them. We want Home Rule, but not at that price. . . . . At the first sight of the English troops, faction would be forgotten, and the whole nation would rise, not against Ulster, but against the invaders." This seems to suggest a happy issae out of the trouble. Simply send over an English army and a united Ireland would clamor for Home Rule! But Mr. John Redmond will have none of that kind of remedy. He declared in a recent speech at Northampton that, until >Sir Edward Carson and his allies "come to realise that the Home Rule battle has been fought and won, and that treason and violence, if they show their heads, will be put down and the majesty of the law vindicated at any cost, there is no chance of a settlement of the Irish question." We have thus the spectacle of two irreconcilablcs facing each other and Parliament apparently helpless to prevent them coming to blows. It does not help matters to appeal to history and to show that Mr.. Redmond was once as strong an advocate of violence and revolt as Sir Edward Carson is now. The whirligig of time has made the two champions change positions. If we go back still further, wo find Dr. Johnson in 1775 deploring tho existence of a monstrous and anomalous state of things in Ireland—the Ulster minority were actually oppressing and persecuting the rest of the Irish people, and the great doctor declared that nothing so bad had ever taken place in all the persecutions of Protest ants by Catholics! Now, l>y one o( Time's little revenges, the Ulstermen are fearful that they will be subjected to persecution by the Nationalists. An American paper suggests that they be suffering from the qualms of an uneasy conscience. By all the rules of liberalism and democracy, the majority is entitled to rule; but Ulster takes the unconstitutional position of claiming the right of the minority to dictate to the majority; and, as of old, she is determined to uphold her view by force of arms. There is a slight gleam of hope that a compromise may be reached, in terms of the suggestion of Sir Horace Plunkett, by giving Ulster the promise of a referendum vote on tho question after she has had -a few years' trial of Home Rule. This may not bo a solution, but it has at least the. merit that it would postpone the crisis until heated blood had had time to cool and Irishmen are brought into a more reasonable frame of mind.

traduction, as a belief that the water supply is unhealthy could not fail f.o militate against the interests of tlui town. If, on the other hand, however, it is found that contamination is taking place steps should be taken at once to remedy the evil. The health of the community is of vital importance, and the Mayor wouid lie wise to face. the. ((iiestion at once and have u thorough investigation made. There was some mention made of calling a special meeting of the Borough Council to go into the question and it is to be hoped no time will be lost in takingaction. hither way, the town promises to sull'er from inaction.