THE ALLEGED BETRAYAL OF THE scurm Sin,—Your correspondent "Southern Unionist"
refers to my views in his letter published in your last issue, and I hasten to reply. I maintain that the wording of the Covenant forbids Covenanters to be a party to the Exclusion of Ulster until after a General Election. Although I live in Leinster and Connaught, I own Ulster property, and I signed the Covenant
as an Ulsterman with the full approval of Ulster authority. "We men of Ulster hereby pledge ourselves to stand by one another in taking all means necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland" (vide the Covenant). If we accept Exclusion we thereby accept and acknowledge the setting up of a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland, an institution we have sworn to take all means necessary to prevent. I fully realize the dangers which "Southern Unionist" fears, and since I do not live in Ulster I shall run the same risks with him, but the fact remains that the Covenanters have sworn a sacred oath, and as God-fearing and honourable men cannot violate it. " Southern Unionist" should remember that if Ulster refuses to accept Exclusion, and stands to sink or swim with the rest of Ireland, Home Rule cannot be forced upon her, and in consequence the only course left open to the Government will be a General Election, which destroys the "present con- spiracy." Should the electorate of the United Kingdom decide in favour of Home Rule, we Irish Unionists, as a con- stitutional people, must accept that decision, and do our utmost to assist in making Home Rule a success.—I am, Sir, ARRAN.
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