THE COERCION OF ULSTER.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The terrible powsr. of the caucus was never more in evidence than at the Liverpool Unionist Conference held last week. The paid agents of the party were threatened that they might " lose their jobs" if they did not toe the line. On one occasion the party agents, who knew they•ought to have supported a certain resolution, remained dumb and did not vote, but one by one after the meeting came to the mover of the resolution and assured him that if they had not heed paid servants they would have suppOrted him, as they knew he was right. I was the mover of that resolution at that meeting, and can well imagine the feelings of the paid agents at Liver- pool who had to be threatened, the night before the meeting, pith the loss of their jobs if they did not vote the party ticket. Ask any of the English, Scots, or Welsh who were present at that Liverpool meeting: Would you like to be governed by Sinn Feiners? and in their consciences they would answer, We would die first. Surely it would be better to be governed by Germans than by such loathsome creatures as the Irish murder gang. If once it he established that you can get your own way and beat the British Empire by a policy of cold- blooded murder and assassination, then not only .good-bye Ireland, but good-bye India, Egypt, and good-bye the British Empire.
The Victorian era was one of " holding fast "; we now have an era of " letting go." Ex-President Roosevelt once gave us a bit of advice, badly needed, after Lord Cromer's retirement from Egypt. He said, " Either govern or get out." If he were alive to-day he would give us the same advice, no doubt, as regards Ireland. Ulster is quite capable of defending herself against this cowardly murder gang if only this treacherous Government (sic) of ours will "get out" and set her hands free. Sinn Feiners no more represent Ireland than Lenin and Trotsky represent Russia. In each case it is a reign of terror. 'rite old Conservative Party is passing through a deep valley of humiliation. It has lost its right to use the name Unionist now that it has voted for Home Rule. It has forced Home Rule on Ulster, assuring tier it shall never be taken away from her, and before the ink is dry she is to be thrown to the "wolves," but the Presbyterian covenanters are made of sterner stuff than that most brilliant opportunist, who knows neither principles nor convictions, and who has, as you say, like a vampire sucked tho life blood of the Unionist Party. Is there no one like, say, John Bright, who, in simple, telling words, will show us the shame of handing over thOse who love England to those who hate her? Nothing that can be done now will save poor Ireland (the sport of the vote-catching politician since 1885) from terrible bloodshed, and at the end of it all it will be found, as you have for so many years declared, that " the Union holds the field."
A few short months ago Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secre- tary for Ireland, said in the House of Commons : " The question is. Who is for Ireland and the Empire, and who is for the assassins?" That question is going to be asked again very shortly, and it will be answered in no 'uncertain voice by the rank and file of what used to be, and will be again, the Unionist Party Paid agents, voting under the threat of losing their jobs, will be found not to have represented the feelings of tho Unionist Party. Ulster must be of good cheer. When the pinch comes the "predominant partner," as Lord Rosebery called England, will stand by her.—I am, Sir, &c., The Waterhouse, Bollington, Afacelesfield. E. L. OLIVER.
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