THE POSITION OF ULSTER. [To THE EDITOR OF TIM "SPECTATOR...1
Sin,—If, as you suggest, the Protestant counties of Ulster secede from the Empire on the passing of a Home Rule Bill, it is not likely that troops will be sent to coerce them. That
would be a very clumsy and ineffective method. The natural and logical consequence of their action would be the cessation of all Imperial services, including those rendered by the postal and telegraph offices, and this of itself would cause such extreme inconvenience to a commercial community such as that of Belfast that it could hardly be long endured. If any further action were necessary the blockade of the port would probably be sufficient. These considerations are so obvious that no such step as secession can possibly be contemplated by serious business men in Ulster. There are, of course, various forms of passive resistance which might give great trouble to the authorities, but these do not involve " blood- shed " of any kind.—I am, Sir, &c., G. C. M.
The north-eastern counties of Ulster do not propose to secede from the Empire, but to resist being forced to secede from the Union because the majority of the southern Irish desire such a secession. If "G. C. M." thinks the people of the Plantation will haul down their flag because the port of Belfast is blockaded he has mistaken his men. It is strange to find an English Home Ruler contemplating using the Navy to coerce Belfast as a matter of little moment. Suppose a Belfast vessel endeavours to run past the blockading cruisers, are they to sink her P If not, the blockade will be a farce. If they do, the bloodshed will be real enough.—En. Spectator.]
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