The Irish Grisis

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 April 1914, Page 5

The Irish Grisis

MR. ASQUITH GOES TO HIS COS STITUENCY.

AT LONDON' STATION,

By Cable—Press Associations-Copyright London, April 3.

King's Cross railway station was crowded to farewell Mr. Asquith on his journey to Fife. The Liberal Federation had arranged a demonstration. Messrs Ch'urchill, M'Kenna, Burns and many members of Parliament cheered and sang "For he's a jolly good fellow" and "Rule Britannia." Ladies, except Ministers' wives, were not admitted for fear of suffragettes. The demonstrations in favor of Mr. Asquith were renewed as he travelled through Grantham, York, and Newcastle. He declared that he never felt in better heart. A suffragette who attempted to board the train fell on the platform uncrauiovs. SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH. ZEAL AND DEVOTION OF ARMY AND ■■ '* ' * " NAVY. ) THE TORY DOCTRINE. '' STRIKES AT ROOT OF DEMOCRACY. Received 6. 12.40 a.m. London, April 5.

Mr. Asqnith, speaking at Ladybank, . . ridiculed the "legend" that the Governhad selected the moment of making proposals to settle Home Rule to engineer a plot to provoke Ulster. There been a genuine misunderstanding and * honest mistakes regarding the Army, tint he had good reason to know the zeal and devotion to duty pervad- » ■ ing the military and naval forcw.

"I am certain," he said, "that thej can be counted on, from the highest to the lowest, without exception, to undertake the duties which they may be required to discharge. I pray that the Army is not to become a political instrument. It has no place and no

voice in framing our policy or moulding our laws. The true, doctrine of Army administration was laid down by the cider Pitt 170 years ago. "It is my duty to see that the Army is fit, in the ever-shifting conditions, for its primary duty. The Army will hear nothing of politics from me on my return, and I shall expect to hear nothing of politics from the Army." The responsibility of preserving domejsfcc peace, he said, lay with the magistrates and police. The Army's aid could not and ought not to be invoked except in an emergency; which was hapjHly.,rare; but when such occasion arose • H was the duty of the soldier to comply ' with the demand of the civil power. The present Tory doctrine struck at the very root not only of Army discipline, but of democratic government.

DEMONSTRATION IN HYDE PARK,

SPEECHES BY PROMINENT UNIONISTS.

GENERAL ELECTION DEMANDED. A CLASH WITH THE SUFFKAFETTES Received 6, 12.25 a.m. London, April 5. There was a remarkable Unionist demonstration at Hyde Park. Despite the rain, twenty-two processions, representing seventy-six London constituencies, bands playing and flags flying, marched , to Hyde Park. Speakers were mounted en fourteen platforms, and these included ; Messrs Balfour and B'onar Law, Sir Edward Carson, Lord Milner, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Lord Selbourno. and Mr. Smith, M.P.

Resolutions were carried, protesting •gainst the Army being used to slioot 3own the Ulster volunteers, and demanding a general election. The meeting concluded witli the singing of the hymn, "0, Cod, our help iu •ges past," and the National Anthem. Some Laborites interrupted with the linging of "The Bed Flag." Suffragettes engineered a rival procession, and their meeting resulted in dia-. turbances. Mre. Drummond and others ■were arrested. COVENANTERS' LEAGUE IN LONDON EARL ROBERTS AS PRESIDENT. " TIME TO RAISE A STORM." Received 5, 5.5 p.m. London, April I. Mr. Asquith is Sir James Low's guest «t Kilmaron Castle. Mr. Masterman is confined to his bed, with a chill. Mr. W. H. Long presided over a meetin" in London to establish a League of British CoTenantcrs. Earl Roberts waa elected president, and on rising to return thanks was cheered for several minutes.

Sir Edward Carson also received an ovation. Describing the Ulster volunteers. he said they were very largely trade unionists.

Lord Milner declared that the time was shirt, but there was still time, to raise a storm of protest and compel an appeal to the country., Lord R&bert Cecil (Unionist), speaking *t Ash well, said the Army was not an instrument of the Government, but of the Crown. Soldiers and civilians were equal before the law. As regards obedience to' order, they must consider -whether these were lawful or not.