Conclusion

Despite the high profile some protestant home rulers in Ulster received, it is fair to say the group was never more than a minority, not even in north Antrim, a supposed hotbed of radical liberalism. Eamon Phoenix is correct in the assessment that, the mass of Ulster - and indeed Irish - Protestants took their stand against any form of Home Rule._{¹ The Irish Protestant Home Rule Association was eventually proved to be too small and disorganised to make a real difference, and the liberal home rulers rarely threatened to loosen the unionist grip on protestant opinion. Protestant nationalists relied on catholic support to win power; they converted few protestants to their cause. Despite this, these men hold great interest for their unusual stance, and the variety of reasons they give for supporting home rule.}

_{Some of these men desired the implementation of home rule for the obvious reason of breaking ties with Britain. This meant allowing Ireland independence, with the possibility of further autonomy in subsequent years. This stance was adopted by protestant nationalists like J.G.Biggar, who vigorously pursued his aims inside and outside of the Commons. Swift MacNeill and E.C.Thompson ended their careers with the view that the only way forward was for Ireland to take charge of her own affairs. Despite his great admiration for Britain, Shane Leslie also came to the conclusion that England had misgoverned her neighbour, and must now sever links.}

_{Other protestant home rulers advocated the measure in the expectation that Irelands ties with Britain would be maintained, or even strengthened, despite the existence of a Dublin parliament. J.B.Armour was of this mindset, and claimed that fellow protestants who feared catholic tyranny under home rule were irrational.² These views were shared by Lord Pirrie and Samuel Walker; the latter expressed, no anxiety about the position of Protestants in Irish society when Home Rule was established.³ Many presbyterians joined the home rule camp because they were unhappy at their treatment by other protestants, and because the new unionist party did not cater for their needs to any degree.}

_{William Macafee spoke in support of home rule in 1910, at a time when this seemed unfashionable amongst Ulster liberals. He had no desire, however, to weaken the union or the empire. Nationalists Samuel Young and John Pinkerton were always in favour of connections with Britain despite calling for an Irish House. Young saw no good reason to disassociate Ireland from the British government and monarchy, while Pinkerton believed that it would be foolish for the small island to shun the most powerful nation on earth.}

_{One very important reason why the protestant home rule custom was perpetrated was land. Agrarian reform would inevitably come with home rule, which was certainly in the interest of the presbyterian population. For many presbyterians, the real villains in Ireland were the landlords. Some were willing to accept the principles of home rule if it brought them closer to their main objectives - of land reform. Reformers like S.C.McElroy and MPs like W.H.Dodd and Charles Hemphill are examples of those who put land before issues of nation. Despite being accused of changing allegiances to suit his selfish interests, T.W.Russell was another who joined the home rule movement, although tenuously, in the hope of changes on land policy. This was also the main interest of his followers, including Glendinning and Wood.}

_{As we have seen, there were various reasons why some protestants decided to support home rule, and varying levels of enthusiasm for the campaign. Despite making no substantial impact on the political landscape of the time, the men have left their mark on Ulsters history. They illustrate the fact that despite the swiftly emerging religious lines being drawn in Ulster politics, the situation was not wholly predictable and unambiguous.}

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_Notes

_{¹ Eamon Phoenix. Northern Nationalism: Nationalist Politics, Partition and the Catholic Minority in Northern Ireland 1890-1940. (Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1994), xiv.}

_{² Robert Lynd. Foreword. Armour of Ballymoney. By W.S.Armour. (London: Duckworth, 1934), xxi.}

_{³ James Loughlin. The Irish Protestant Home Rule Association and Nationalist Politics, 1886-93. Irish Historical Studies. (24: 95, May 1985), 350.}