Mr. Bonar Law, challenged by Mr. Redmond, declared that he
withdrew nothing. He fully realized the seriousness of what he had said at Blenheim, where he spoke, not impromptu, but used words written down beforehand. The situation was more serious than any since 1642, and he felt bound to speak as he did. Every member of his party endorsed every word he had uttered. The men of North-East Ulster would act up to their declarations, and until there was evidence that the Government was supported by the British electorate the Unionist Party, representing more than half the people of Great Britain, were determined that Home Rule should not be established. Mr. Asquith questioned whether any parallel could be found in the speeches of any responsible statesman for Mr. Bonar Law's language, and he tried to frighten the Unionist leader by asking him to consider what would happen if he and his friends should return to power and the over- whelming majority of the Irish people should resist the law and point to his language in justification of their conduct. If the doctrine were laid down that legislation could be resisted by force, there would be an end of Parliamentary government. The real significance of Mr. Bonar Law's speech was that it was a declaration of war.
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