[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I was glad
to see attention called by correspondents and by yourself in the Spectator of January 21st—I believe for the first time—to a point which, as an Ulsterman, I have long believed to be of vital importance with reference to the pro- posal to give Home-rule to Ireland. I refer to the question as to what the attitude of Ulster to England would be in the event of Home-rule being forced upon us. There can be little doubt that the feeling of trust and loyalty which, owing to ninety years' experience of the Union, has taken the place of the seditious temper exhibited by the Northern Presbyterians a century ago, could not survive so treacherous a desertion as, in our judgment, surrender to the Nationalist demand would be. But this changed feeling would become evident not merely, as you rightly foresee, in the attitude of Ulster Mem- bers towards questions of domestic policy in the Dublin Par- liament—if they even so far recognised it as to take their seats —but in the agitation which they would be sure to promote for complete separation from England. To the Unionist argument that Home-rule must lead to separation, Mr. Glad- stone in 1886 thought it sufficient to reply that Mr. Parnell accepted the Bill of that year as a final settlement. How far subsequent events shook the confidence of Gladatonians in the value of Mr. Parnell's assurances, or how far they now think assurances given by Mr. Healy or Mr. Redmond of any greater value, it would be hard to say. But it can scarcely be con- tended, even by the most simple of them, that any of the Nationalist leaders are in a position to speak for the party which follows Colonel Saunderson. If Home-ruk were carried, England would be in no way relieved of the Irish question ; it would only have entered on a new phase, when it will be the policy of Ulstermen in Ireland and in Parliament (we hear that Irish Members are to be retained at Westminster) to obtain absolute independence of England; so that if we are to lose the solid advantages and real security of the Union, we may, at least, in deciding such internal questions as might arise, be unhampered by the forms of a merely technical connection.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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