THE HOME RULE BILL.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."' SIR,—There is no more probable method of stumbling into a civil war in Ireland than the persistent belief of both parties that the other side will give way when the matter is pressed to an issue. The Ministers declare that Ulster will not fight if the Government stand firm. The Opposition leader declares that the Government will not fight if Ulster stands firm. Of course, in this latter case the choice does not lie altogether with the Government. However they may wish to fight, they cannot do it if public opinion is strongly against fighting. On the other hand, they cannot declare their inten- tion not to fight at the present juncture without breaking with the Nationalists, with a consequent failure to pass the Welsh Disestablishment Bill and the Franchise Bill. So their present policy appears to be to "wait and see" which way the cat will jump. But the question which I wish to put to your readers is, supposing the Government to be right in thinking that the Ulstermen will submit to Home Rule rather than resist it by force of arms, is this a sufficient reason for imposing it on them ? If they are really telling lies to avoid Home Rule, is it not plain that they are strongly opposed to it ? Why should the people of this district—there are at least a million of them—be compelled, contrary to their expressed wishes, to allow the Irish Parliament which is about to be created to rule over them ? Mr. Churchill says the Ministers " seek to liberate, not to enthral—to conciliate, not to coerce." How is the impo- sition of this yoke on Ulster consistent with this language ? Does he intend to say : "We would listen to your objections if we thought you were prepared to fight in support of them. But though you tell us you will fight we do not believe you; and as you will not fight we do not care how strongly you object. You will simply have to obey" P This is very con- ciliatory language. The real reason for refusing to exempt Ulster is that she is wanted for the purpose of levying taxes on. The milch cow of Home Rule must not be permitted to
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