ULSTER AND THE SITUATION LN IRELAND
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.") 8rn,—Will you let me point out the insulting manner in which Ulster is being treated by newspapers and public men, who conceive that the_ present moment is propitious for the settlement of the Home Rule question ? Ulster is held up as the great difficulty, the irreconcilable, the impossible that no proposal will satisfy, the disloyal province which is keeping up discord in the body politic, and so on without end. What are the facts 1 Ulster asks for nothing but to be let alone. Ulster seeks for deliverance from the horde of restless, plotting, self-seeking politicians who are the unfailing curse of Ireland. Ulster is, of all parts of the United Kingdom, the least interested in politics. All Ulster people ask for is to be allowed to attend to their business without interference. Then as to loyalty, how was it that though the Sinn Fein movement is very strong amongst the Nationalists of some parts of Ulster, there was perfect quiet- ness during the recent rebellion in every part of the province ? The answer is simple. It was because the Ulster Unionists, forming a large majority of the total population, are unshakable in their loyalty, and are at the present time able to defend themselves and their province if attacked. The quietness of Ulster arose from its sense of strength and preparedness. Further, Ulster has given since the outbreak of the war fifty-five thousand recruits to the New Army, as against forty-nine thousand from the three other provinces, and of the latter figure about one-half are Southern Unionists I Ulster was prepared to accept compulsory military service willingly and cheerfully, and there was great disappointment when the rest of Ireland rejected it. Which, I ask, is the loyal province ? Let there be no mistake about this. If, after the Sinn Fein rebellion, Home Rule is given to Ireland, a gigantic risk will be taken. Shin Fein is not exorcised. It is the spirit of that seething restlessness that every Irishman knows is now especially widespread throughout Nationalist Ireland. It may capture the Irish Government at any time. If that happens, Great Britain will need a base for operations. Let Ulster be kept out of Home Rule, not for Ulster's sake only, but to secure the safety of the United Kingdom.— .I am, Sir, &c., AN ULSTERMAN. [We feel it our duty to register this protest on behalf of Ulster, but we shall not open our correspondence columns to further discussion of this problem unless it becomes essential to do so—a condition which we do not anticipate. At the moment our prime duty Is to suspend all internal controversy from whatever side it comes, no matter how great the provocation, and unite in beating the Germans. One thing at a time. Meanwhile nothing must be done to prejudice Protestant Ulster's claim to separate treatment.—En. Spectator.]
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