Let us say once more that we are supporting the
plea for the exclusion of Ulster, not because we think it is good in itself, not because we think the Home Rule Bill will be thereby made into a good Bill, not because we think that this compromise will provide a true solution of the Irish problem, but simply and solely because it has become the only alterna- tive to civil war that remains open to us. It is clear that a section of the Liberal Party are willing to adopt this alternative, but no other. Therefore, in our opinion, Unionists are bound to acquiesce in the committal of a great but remediable mistake rather than provoke by a pure non possumus the committal of a great and irremediable crime. For ourselves, if we can do anything to avert civil war and help recourse to the less evil of these alternatives, we shall most cheerfully endure any accusations of cowardice or betrayal that may be brought against us by Unionists who have not imagination enough to realize the true bearings of the situation with which we are confronted.
