Sir Edward Carsorr- at Belfast Sir Edward Carson, speaking at an Orange meeting at Belfast at which Lady Carson unfurled the banner for Craigavon Royal Black Preceptory, said that at a great demonstration at Craigavon in 1911 he was elected their leader. He reviewed the events which had since happened, and asked his hearers not to imagine that their troubles were over. He did not know when they would be over, but one thing he knew was that their faith in their cause was so undying that no lapse of years or no rolling on of the ages could ever obliterate fro: their minds the sacrosanct issues for which they were always determined to fight. (Applause.)
"I doubt," proceeded Sir Edward, " if ever there was a moment when it is more necessary for us to be watchful and determined than the presen; moment. Never were our enemies more active, never have they shown themselves more in their true colours. When we were told that we were rebels because we armed to prevent ourselves from being put unday that hateful Government, we knew who they were, whatever' might be the masks they wore to cloak the disloyalty of their hearts and their hatred of the ish race.
Now they have taken the mask off and they appear before the world as a gang of murderers and conspirators, prepared in any case, even to the ruin of their country, to show their hatred and detestation of all that has made Britain the get Empire that she is. No, we shall not relax our efforts, nor shall we relax our efforts if they give us our own Parliament here.
"You will always have an enemy ai your gate, and it behoves you who have the enemy at your gate, to have good, sound, solid, determined, pickets to sound the bugle and call together the necessary forces at any moment to" repel them." (Applause.)
He was glad to see with them that night brethren from overseas. They would be a source of great additional encouragement to them in their hours of difficulty in the tine to come—and God knew it might come and come quickly. He knew they could rely upon their assistance even when they were far away. Across the seas they would clasp their hands. Whatever trials might confront them, they would stand together, re-echoing the words of the old motto—No surrender." (Cheers).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.