IRELAND AND THE UNION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Will you permit an Irish Liberal Unionist to thank you most cordially for the magnificent series of articles in defence of the Union which have of late appeared ? To me it seems that these cannot fail to have the effect of lifting the entire issue on to a loftier plane and thereby remove it from among those problems which are besmirched by the squalid party warfare of to-day. You have no idea how encouraging it is to those of us resident in Ireland and outside of Ulster to feel-
that we have a champion who does not look upon it as a heinous crime to defend the articles of the Union, a measure carried by the genius of the statesman who thereby conferred untold benefits upon Ireland and the Empire. As you rightly say, everything must be subordinated to the paramount necessity of saving the Union. I would have you remember, however, that although, as you point out, Ulster is the key of the position, yet in the other three provinces there are many thousands who are as devoted to the Union as any men or women can be, and who are now fighting for it day in and day out with, as it were, their backs to the wall. Of the ultimate triumph of their cause, I agree with you that there can hardly be a doubt, but no effort should be spared to thwart the machinations of a party which will stop at nothing in its desire to retain office. In no part of Ireland is any enthusiasm being evoked on behalf of this measure. Those who live in this country can testify as to that, and from information gleaned from farmers, shopkeepers, and professional men I am amply persuaded of this. You rightly assert that the Union has triumphed, and we trust will still triumph over all other policies. What madness is it that now proposes to substitute for its beneficent terms a miserable bankrupt, and not even a genuine Nationalist, policy as framed in the Home Rule Bill ? Would that your encouraging words, and also indeed those of many writers to your columns, could reach every humble household in this country : these would bring fresh courage to those who are dejected and fresh strength to those who are determined to oppose a measure which to their certain knowledge would bring disaster and ruin to their
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