[ 35 1] 
on Home Rule, demanded by the overwhelming 
majority of the Irish people at home and abroad, and 
by the voice of the civilised world. It would be 
wasting argument on unresisting imbecility to expose 
the utter absurdity of such a claim. 
Courage, patriotism, honour and self-interest 
demands the Ulster veto should be withdrawn. A 
settlement by universal consent is much to be pre- 
ferred, but a settlement there must be on the only 
possible lines, Home Rule for a united Ireland. The 
coercion of the four counties is *“ unthinkable,” because 
the necessity for coercion can never arise. Armed 
resistance in Ulster against the law of the land and 
the forces of the Empire is “unthinkable.” Does 
any sane man believe that the great protagonists of 
conditional rebellion, Sir Edward Carson, First Lord 
of the Navy; Sir James Campbell, Lord Chief Justice 
of Ireland; Mr. Chambers, the Irish Solicitor-General; 
Mr. Bonar Law, the leader of the House of Commons; 
and Sir Frederick Smith, the English Attorney- 
General, would resign their places to lead the armed 
manhood of four Ulster counties against the forces 
of the Crown. Let the Act be put in operation and 
the Ulster Unionists will either freely accept or 
peaceably submit, and turn Home Rule, as they 
turned the much denounced Land Act of 1881, to 
the best possible advantage. 
The German hope that the declaration of war 
would create a centrifugal force for the disruption 
of the British Empire has been completely dis- 
appointed. The self-governed colonies beyond the 
seas have rallied to its defence with a whole- 
hearted devotion. Ireland alone stands aloof 
demanding self-government as the price of her 
allegiance, and her demand must be granted before 
the Empire can preseut a united front to the enemy, 
or champion the cause of small nationalities in the 
oreat Peace Congress at the close of the war.