Letter from Hugh Montgomery to Monteagle, 19 September 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Hugh Montgomery

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The letter from Hugh Montgomery (1844-1924) to Monteagle contests the idea of of Home Rule. Hugh Montgomery can not agree to the idea of the six counties reuniting. The second paragraph comments on Edward Carson and how his thoughts push towards the impossibility and non logical idea of Home Rule. Edward Carson (1854 - 1924) was an Irish Unionist politician. He was leader of the Irish Unionist Alliance and Ulster Unionist Party. He also held position in the British parliament. Only the first folio of the letter is known.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland D-627-429-66 https://letters1916.ie/item/2317 English Hugh Montgomery 1916-09-19 Blessingbourne, Fivemiletown, Tyrone, Ireland Monteagle None Male 1924 Politics Politics

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 Private Copy BLESSINGBOURNE, FIVEMILETON. 19th Sept. 1916. My dear Monteagle, As it appears impossible to replace the present Government by a better one, it is necessary, as a War measure, for us to acquiesce in their policy of keeping this country as quiet as they can till the war is over. For that reason I hold it to be impossible for an Ulster Unionist to make a public answer to your public letter; but for your private information I should like to say that I think I represent the bulk of opinion here when I say that we think Home Rule for any part of Ireland a bad thing, and will do nothing whatever to try and make it a success. I think the words of the Resolution of the Ulster Unionist Council authorising Carson enter upon negotiations upon the bases of the exclusion of six counties made this clear. In the course of Edward Carson's very able manoeuvres for position he, no doubt, used words that made it appear that he thought Ulster might be won, though she could not be coerced, to submit to Home Rule. I believe this is mere eye-wash, and cannot conceive that he thinks anything of the sort. My belief is that if the Home Rule Act is on the Statute Book it can never be brought into operation; the difficulties financial and other are too great. If it be in any shape brought into operation I believe it will break down at once, and that the effect of the exclusion of Ulster, if, as I hope, it can be maintained, would be that the six counties being practically English counties would flourish and prosper as they have under the Union, and that the Blessingbourne, Fivemiletown, Tyrone, Ireland Letter from Hugh Montgomery to Monteagle, 19 September 1916 Hugh Montgomery Letter from Hugh Montgomery to Monteagle, 19 September 1916