PASSIVE RESISTERS AND ULSTER'S CLAIM TO REMAIN IN THE UNION.
(To TRIO EDITOR OF TRIO "SPECTATOR." j SIR,—Your article on "Dr. Horton and his Protestant Brethren" in the Spectator of February 17th should be considered in connexion with the late passive resistance movement. At that time we had thousands of Noncon- formists demonstrating their deep suspicion of a very mild Anglican domination. They were ready to submit to a forced sale of their goods or even to actual imprisonment in preference to the slightest semblance of religious in- equality. It was most difficult to find solitary instances of the mildest form of persecution. Each parent was amply protected by a conscience clause. But it was just possible that some pale young curate should stroke the curls of a Nonconformist infant—just possible (though not unavoidable) that the " reverence " and " duty " clauses of the Catechism should leave a faint impression on the mind of a child of the Chapel. The more readily we concede the earnestness and conviction which led to passive resistance the more we are shocked at the present attitude of political Noncon- formists. These same men now ridicule the threatened resistance of Ulster Presbyterians as bigotry and prejudice. It is true that Ulster is to be handed over to an essentially Catholic Government controlled by Rome I It is true that the Roman Church is bound to persecute the Protestant heretic I It is true- that it has always been the special work of Nonconformity to counteract Papist teach- ing I It is true that Romish influence is all-powerful in Ireland But has not Mr. Redmond promised there shall be no persecution, and that he is willing to give any reasonable guarantees P What would the passive resisters have said to such guarantees against the trivial, if not imaginary, danger from, say, the Archbishop of Canterbury P In Ireland the danger is admitted to be so serious that Dr. Horton looks forward to the wholesale emigration of Protestant Ulstermen. This callous desertion of their Protestant brothers by English Nonconformists is the most striking instance of the depravity which comes through making not only religious faith but ordinary fidelity and loyalty subservient to political partisan- ship. When will it be realized that political commerce may drag Church or Chapel below the moral level of the traffic of the market place P Religious convictions can never square with the opportunism of politics.--I am, Sir, &c.,
FIDES ET JUSTITIL
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