The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1914. WHERE WILL IT END?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 284, 4 May 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1914. WHERE WILL IT END?

For some time past a wordy war of political strife has been raging over the Ulster problem. At one time it seemed as df chaos was brooding over that part of Ireland which is still a portion, of the United Kingdom, and it was quite within the bounds of possibility that verbal warfare might drift into actual hostilities between armed citizens and the forces of the British Government. At any moment there was the possibility ot* the match being applied to all the susceptible tinder. In spite of the evil influences that are at work to provoke the Government to desperate measures the Premier remains calm and cool, though tlie strain he is undergoing must be almost unbearable. Through the storm clouds there now appears to be a promise of a rift through which a ray of brightness may penetrate—a streak of grey in the murk of night. It would seem as if the Unionists recognised that they have pressed matters to the extreme point, and that at the eleventh hour they are inclined to avoid the dreadful calamity that would ensue if they refused any longer to listen to the voice of reason and the counsel of compromise. To Mr. Balfour's credit must be placed the hope for a settlement of ,this thorny question. He has caused the angry feeling to subside, at least for a time, and if advantage be taken of the opportunity aj, agreement between the two contending parties may be reached. It is also probable that Mr. Asquith's audience with the King may have had an. effect on the Ministry, as well as on the Opposition, but whatever may be the cause, there will be a feeling of profound relief if the effect is to place the Ulster question on a sounder and more practicable basis. The militant member of the Ministry, Mr. Churchill, is in some measure to blame for the intense friction and heat in tho Parliamentary debates, but it must be admitted that he has been the victim of most unjustifiable attacks; but though,there was a violent altercation between him and Mr. Balfour, it cleared the air. The reported offer of Mr. Cliamberlain, which is regarded as excluding Ulster until the United Kingdom is fedcralised, is hardly likely to evontuate in that shape, and has probably been misconstrued. It may be, however, that some offer of that nature will be made, and, if so, its acceptance would end tlia trouble. The fact that the Premier dissociated himself from the offer is significant, yet his invitation to Sir Edward Carson to make some such offer shows clearly that there is every disposition on the part of the Government to terminate tho dispute. As most of the blame for the agitation and turmoil rests on the shoulders of tho Unionist leaders, it is only reasonable to expect that they should formulate a' modus vivendi. Neither tho gun-running incident nor tho defeat of Mr. Chamberlain's motion have been allowed to affect the Government's action. Sir Edward Carson practically admitted that lie would be satisfied with the "federal system, which would give Ulster equal treatment and d.) away With all moral justification for resistance. Probably the Nationalists, and many of the Liberals, will oppose such a magnanimous offer, and make a stubborn resistance. The end is not yet, but the grey streak may, it* is sincerely hoped, develop into the roseate hues of the dawn of a day which will witness the end of the bitter fight. May that be soon.