“And so, without any condition of any kind, we agreed that the Bill should be postponed without prejudice to the position of either party.  England’s difficulty is not Ulster’s opportunity.  England’s difficulty is our difficulty; and England’s sorrows have always been, and always will be, our sorrows.  I have seen it stated that the Germans thought they had hit on an opportune moment, owing to our domestic difficulties, to make their bullying demand against our country.  They little understood for what we were fighting.  We were not fighting to get away from England; we were fighting to stay with England, and the Power that attempted to lay a hand upon England, whatever might be our domestic quarrels, would at once bring us together—­as it has brought us together—­as one man.”

In order to avoid controversy at such a time, Carson declared he would say nothing about their opponents.  He insisted that, however unworthily the Government might act in a great national emergency, Ulstermen must distinguish between the Prime Minister as a party leader and the Prime Minister as the representative of the whole nation.  Their duty was to “think not of him or his party, but of our country,” and they must show that “we do not seek to purchase terms by selling our patriotism.”  He then referred to the pride they all felt in the U.V.F.; how he had “watched them grow from infancy,” through self-sacrificing toil to their present high efficiency, with the purpose of “allowing us to be put into no degraded position in the United Kingdom.”  But under the altered conditions their duty was clear: 

“Our country and our Empire are in danger.  And under these circumstances, knowing that the very basis of our political faith is our belief in the greatness of the United Kingdom and of the Empire, I say to our Volunteers without hesitation, go and help to save your country.  Go and win honour for Ulster and for Ireland.  To every man that goes, or has gone, and not to them only, but to every Irishman, you and I say, from the bottom of our hearts, ’God bless you and bring you home safe and victorious.’”

The arrangements with the War Office for forming a Division from the Ulster Volunteers were then explained, which would enable the men “to go as old comrades accustomed to do their military training together.”  Carson touched lightly on fears that had been expressed lest political advantage should be taken by the Government or by the Nationalists of the conversion of the U.V.F. into a Division of the British Army, which would leave Ulster defenceless.  “We are quite strong enough,” he said, “to take care of ourselves, and so I say to men, so far as they have confidence and trust in me, that I advise them to go and do their duty to the country, and we will take care of politics hereafter.”  He concluded by moving a resolution, which was unanimously carried by the Council, urging “all Loyalists who owe allegiance to our cause” to join the Army at once if qualified for military service.