The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-29 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE ON EDUCATION FOR
IRELAND.

A deputation of afoot fifty Irish gentlemen, a large pro-
portion of whom were members of Parliament, waited upon
the Prime Minister, in Downing-street, 1,11(14,n, on Monday,
to urge upon him their sit-Ws upon the subject of ethus-
Doll. Sir Dominic Corrigan, Bart., having introduced the
depot:it iOll, - -

The Loril Mayor of Dublin said there was a general
impression in Ireland at the emit of last session that he.
fore this year had passed the Government would give
them a system of education foundel upon principles of
perfect religious equality. This impression arose from
the right hon. gentleman's own declaration when he
became Premier, that the liovernment had taken office
for a variety id purposes, the chief of Which were to
find a solutiim of the Irish Church question, the
Irish Land Laws question, and Irish Education ques-
tion, the latter especially including the subject of
higher education in Ireland. A general feeling
existed amongst Trish parents that eaeh year's delay
was a wrong to their children. The deputation
therefore asked her Majesty's Government to
propose a measure at the beginning if next session
which would meet the acknowledged requirements. In
asking this the deputation were only asking for a
further development of those great Liberal principles
for which tie right hon. gentleman was MO distinguished.
The memorial which he had to present on behalf of the
Corporation of Dublin urged that civil and religious
liberty in Ireland would remain incomplete as long as
perfect religions equality was not enjoyed. The
Catholic people of Ireland were entitled from their
numbers, wealth, and influence to be placed in a posi-
tion of educational equality with their Episcopalian
fellow-countrymen ; and measures should be taken in
the opinion of the memorialists) to secure to them such
a system as might accord with their religious principles,
and facilities for universal and immediate education
equal, in all resiaets, to those enjoyed I other deno-
minations. It was a grievance to Irish Catholics to he
excluded from University education because of their
religious opinions ; and the memorialists besought the
Government to give the members of the Catholic
Church in Ireland the educational equality of which
they felt the need.
. .

Memorials, so far 0.8 could be gathered, of a similar
purpose, were presented by the Mayors of elonmel,
Kilkenny, Dungaryan, Athlone, Waterford, and other
plaeest
Mr. I iladstone, in reply. said—
- - - • - •

• .
" Allow Die to preface the few words I have to Say by 1.
stating that Lord Ilartington very much wished to he present
at this interview, but is prevented by tier Majesty's coin-
mends bi lie in attendance at Osborne. I understand the I
object of this deputation to be to claim that whatever io lone ,
in relation to education in Ireland, should be done in accord-
an, with the estalrlishment if minciples of religious
equality and likewise to urge that we should proceed to
that matter w ith as much expedition as possible. There is
only one word which it is desirable I should say with
reference to your lindshiPs opening speech, NI herein men-
thol was made of some expressions which fell from ow as
constituting the basis of this pnice.litig. I minim to draw a
distitierion between the higher education question jimJill:toil
and other educational questions, and I such to say it Was '
the former, and not the latter, that was contemplated, not
ails I.y mn self. lint the whole liberal party tit general in !
It was situ reference ti them I felt that the Iloniati
catlielii• community to a great extent, and likewise Boise
iddier Ireland, not vii
perhaps, lad not the les, important, had a distinct and de-
rided grievance and it was on account of that we certainly
placed the qui.stion of a higher education in Ireland upon
the saint' footing as that of the Church and Land laws I
of that country. That portion of our mission no doubt !
remains to he accomplished, and I fully admit the
pledges given by its. and the expectations that the ,
people of Ireland are entitled to found upon them. I
draw this distinction, not for the purpose of inti-
mating the opt ll ~ n that there are not other Matters
relating to education in Ireland, whether it be intermediate
or primary, which form Very proper objects for the attention
of the tiovernment list I Mean that these latter subjects !
stand hi lie ConSidered upon grounds of general policy rather
than of specific grievance. At any rate, historically they are
net included ut the diSeliSidon of Itias, when the present Par-
liament was elected. I hope yini, therefore, do not Under-
stand that it is intended to shit oUt these inutterS altogether,
lint it was the subject of higher education with regent to
sstmieli lee fully recogniScil that it constitnted part of
what I may call the tnission of the present tlovernment.
With respect to the question of tinie, you are here, soil
not unnatundly, to urge forward tide subject without
lons of thne hut, On the other hand. I alit sure you
will permit use to say that the prevailing views if the
House of Commons are that the interests of Ireland have,
and very properly have, shut out of the present Parliament
hitherto is great many questions relating to England and
Scotland. I assure you I wish we had a great deal more
time to place at your service, hut other interests, social and
I otherwise, of the Empire are continually pressing forward,
and it is evident that it is more and more becoming apparent
' that the great difficulty Parliament has is to apply itself effec-
tually to work which is coming in arrears. tam afraid there-
fore all I can do just nosy is to make that frank acknowledg-
ment. No doubt there is a 'distinct educational grievance in
Ireland, so far as the higher education of that country is con-
cerned we havo the samo anxiety that we always had to
deal with it, and we trust the manner n which we en-
deavoured to deal with other questions will stand as some
assurance to you, both of our desire to atiproach this matter
and others on the same principle. That is our desire, and
welhall endeavour to give these questions that place which
their impedance merits. For my own part I altars your
anxiety, and hope the time will not be long before we shall
deal with the subject. Of one thing you may rest assured,
we shall never be parties to any measure relating to higher
education in Ireland except one which is conformable with
the language and principles we have held in connection with
former transactions undertaken and carried out for the
benefit of Ireland."

DEATH OF SIR THOMAS ACLAND.

Sir Thomas Dyke Acland died at Killerton, Broad
Cliston, on Saturday afternoon at the ripe age of tit
years. His death was quite unexpected. He was in
his usual health up ti Saturday morning, but about one
o'clock he was seized with a fainting fit and died almost
immediately. He had earned the right to rank high
among the worthies of Devon. Ten years ago he re-
ceived a tribute of respect such as is given to few men
to receive. Men of all parties heartily co-operated in
the erection of his statue, which was placed on Nor-
thenhay, a plea.sure ground belonging to Exeter. The
monument bears thesse words:—

" Prtreenti-Wri niaturos laryiinur honoree
And also, the following

'• Ereeted alfa Willa., id affectionate respect for private
worth :mil public Integrity, mid in testimony if admiration
for the generals heart awl open band %Mel) have been ever
ready to protect the weak, to relieve tile needy, and to
succour the oppressed of a hatever party race or creed, Al'.
1661." . .

Deceased was the tenth baronet aml was born in 1787.
He mucceeded his father in 1794, from 1812 to 1818, and
again from 1820 to the panning of the first Reform
Bill, he was one of the members for Devon, and from
1837 to 1857 he represented North Devon in the Con-
servative interests. In 1816 his wife died, and Sir
Thomas shortly after retired into private life, but
continued to take a warm interest in several religious
societies. The deceased baronet in muceeeded by his
eldest son the Liberal member for North Devon, Mr.
Thomas Dyke Aeland, now Sir Thomas, who was born
in 1809. He represented West Somerset in the House
Conning., and has sat for North Devon since 1801.