AN AMAZING SPEECH.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1919, Page 3

AN AMAZING SPEECH.

SIR EDWARD CARSON'S THREAT.

In his speech to the Belfast Orangemen, Sir Edward Carson said there were only two policies before the country; one was the maintenance of the union and loyalty to the King, and the other was an Irish Republic. Do not let them uiuler-estimate the forces' that were working against them. Do not let them merely talk. Let them be prepared for every emergency. "I tell the British people, from this platform, and 1 say it with all solemnity, that if there is any attempt made to take one jot or tittle of vour rights as British citizens and of the advanages that have been won in this war of freedom—l tell them that at all conuuences once more I will call upon those men (Ulster Volunteers) to preserve alive the memory of the sacrifices of those who. at their country's call, went out and gave their lives in the service of their' King and their country." (Cheers.) A few evenings ago in Parliament, he asked Mr. Devlin what he wanted, and he replied "Dominion Home Rule." What was Dominion Home Rule? In the circumstances in Ireland it was an Irish Republic camouflaged by another name. He sent this message to all whom it might concern, that they would nave nothing to do with Dominion Hoffie Rule | or uny other Home Rule. (Cheers.) Tliey avoided it as a thing unclean. They spurned it, and they flung it back. It had nothing to do with them, their people, or their condition. They were loyal people. The King and the Constitution, and the British Empire, were good enough for them, and I men who tried to knock a brick out of that solid foundation, if they came to Ulster, would know what the real feelings of Ulster men and Ulster women were.

There was a campaign going on in America fostered by the Catholic Church there, with great funds at their disposal. which would be soon joined by the Germans and their friends in order to create a great anti-British feeling. There were Jionest men in England [ind Scotland who kept saying to him that surely something must he done tor fear they should lose the goodwill of America.

"I want good feelings between America and this country. I believe the whole future peace of the world would prolbably depend upon the relations between the United States and ourselves.

"But I am not going to submit, to this kind of campaign, whether for friendship or for any other purpose, and I today say seriously to America: You attend to your own affairs, and we will attend to ours. You look after your own questions at home and we will look after ours, but we will not brook interference in our affairs by any country, jhowever powerful." (Cheers.) It was not for that that we waged "the great war of independence just concluded " If the Government attempted to revive the Home Rule Act or put it into force he would once more summon the provincial government, and he would move that they repeal the Home Rule Act if nobody else did. and he would have behind him every loyal man and woman in Ulster.

On Sir E. Carson's motion a resolution was carried demanding the repeal of the Home Rule Act.