THE FEELING OF ULSTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2210, 7 September 1886, Page 2

THE FEELING OF ULSTER.

In a letter to The Times 'An Ulsterman ' writes :—: — The following facts and statistics are interesting, and may be important should the Home Rule Bill come to a close division : — What is the feeling in Ulster ? Its population in 1881 was as follows : — Protestants, 909,189 ; Catholics, 833 :>G3. Of the Protestants not a dozen are Home Rulers, and of the Catholics, as I know, a respectable minority are opposed to Mr Gladstone's Bill. The minority thus includes the great body of those who, from their education, social position, and stake in the country, are capable of judging of its effects on trade, commerce, and peace. Of the Protestants 529,787 are Presbyterians, and they have forwarded with their co-religionists in other parts of Ireland—numbering altogether 573,841 — a strong united protest against the Home Rule Bill. So intense was their feeling ttyat a special meeting of their Supreme Court, the General Assembly, composed half of clergy and half of representative laymen, was held, and, alter solemn deliberation, resolutions already published condemning the Bill were passed, and forwarded to leading statesmen of both parties. In addition to this unusual measure, the Church has sent deputies to England and Scotland to rouse, if possible, their coreligionists theie apainst what they feel would be the ruin of their country and a death-blow to their liberties. The members of the Church of Ireland, numbering in Ulster 379,402, and in all Ireland 039,574, have with equal unanimity opposed the Bill. Suppose it passed, in the face of all this determined opposition on the part of those who have m.ide Ulster prosperous, and have preserved Ireland trom utter ruin, what would be the result? Loyal Ulster will not submit calmly. Its people inherit, much of the courage and determination of their Scotch forefathers. I for on* 1 venture to think and hope that they will not be abandoned in the present crisis Other facts are worthy of note. Since the Horr.c Rule agitation commenced trade has been almost ruinously affected. The banks of Ulster, hitherto abo^u suspicion, have fallen from b to 12 p r cent in shares. Railways and commercial firms have suffered more severely. It it calculated by those best acquainted with trade and manufacture in this province that if the Bill be carried business will be utterly ruined. Ulster will become like Leinster and Minister. Where then will the revenue of the projected Irish Parliament come from ? Mr Gladstone spoke of the great co3t of the Irish constabulary—a million and a half annually. Why does it cost so much, and in what counties is the chief outlay ? The following facts, taken from statistics given in 'Thorn's Almanac 1 show. Throughout all Ireland there are on an average 28 policemen for every 10,000 inhabitants. Take a few counties as examples of how this is made up : Cork has 24 for every 10,000 ; Tipperary, 41 ; Kilkenny, 36 ; Westmeath, 4."> ; Kerry, 32 ; Gal way, 46. So much for the South and West, the seat of the Parnullites. Now take those counties of Ulster iv which loyal Protestants form the great majority : — Down, 11 for every 10,000; Antiim, 11 ; Armagh, 11 ; Derry, II ; Tyrone, 12. Were all Ireland as peaceable and industrious the constabulary would not cost the country more than one-third of the present expenditure, Does not loyal Ulster, do not the loyal and industrious Protestants of Ireland, deserve at least as much consideration and as favourable treatment as the disloyal outrage-mongers of the South and West ?

The pastor of a coloured church at Fort dairies, Ga , succeeded in having the church debt liquidated in a very novel manner. The members had bound themselves under a promise to pay it, and recently the pastor informed them that if they did not pay it at once he would turn them out of the church for lying. Subsequently each member of the congregation brought loOdol. and the debt wan paid. A Simile.— Speaking at Manchester on the Home Bule question recently, Mr G/adstone appealed to the prudence, courage, and sense of honour of Englishmen, with a view to the solution of the Irish problem a* provided in his scheme, and added : Ireland is the mistress of the situation. Ireland is mounted on the back of England as the old man in the "Arabian Nights " was mounted on the back of Sindbad the Sailor. (Laughter.) Do you recollect that incident? (Renewed laughter.) I hope you have not all of you given up reading the •• Arabian Nights ;" it is a great pity if you have. (Laughter.) I will read a passage from it. Sindbad is upon one of his islands. He sees the venerable looking old man, and invites him to get on his back. The old man mounts accordingly. He takes him wherever he wishes to go. But at last he begins to wish the old gentleman would dismount. " I said to him, 'Dismount.' " He made the demand — a very modest one — "'Dismount at thy leisure,' but he would not get off my back, and wound his legs about my neck. I was affrighted and would have cast him off but he clung to me and gripped my neck— (laughter) — with his legs till I was well nigh choked. The world grew black in my sight, and I iell senseless to the ground like one dead." Sindbad is the Parliament of England. The old man is Ireland, whom we, by our foolish initiative, have almost compelled to place herself upon our backs ; and she rides you, and she will ride you, until, listening to her reasonable demands, you shall consent to Borne arrangement that justice and policy alike say the right. We beg to draw attention to an advertisement in another column concerning the Wiiikato Fellmonpery Company, (Limited). Tenders are invited by Mr ,T. B. Whyte until the 20th of September, for the lea*e of his farm, near Hamilton, with 35 dairy cows in full working order. The farm is replete with all necessary farming appliances, &c. There is also an excellent orchard.