The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-14 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCT. 14, 18G9.

Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE'S reply to the electors of
Tipperary is eminently characteristic. It sets forth
a very liberal and a very reasonable argument. It con-
tains a joke, so rough and ready in its way, that one
is almost tmpted to spell it " goak," after AR TEMUS
WARD'S absurd orthography. It ends with a fleering
reference to the Viceregal Court, in which as Captain
BERNAL, the writer of the letter, began his career as
a public character. And in the closing half of the
final sentence, in which this allusion is made, submits
to theconsideration of the community atlarge one of the
most ridiculous and utterly impracticable of proposi-
tions. As might reasonably have been expected by
anyone in the slightest degree acquainted with Mr.
BERNAL OSBORNE'S reputation for political inde-
pendence, he begins by repudiating, in the plainest
terms possible, the notion of his ever giving any-
thing at all like a definite pledge for the purpose of
ingratiating himself with any constituency. Conse-
quent upon his adherence to this principle, by which
be has been actuated through the whole of his public
life, he says, in answer to the elector who has written
to ascertain his views, "I am not at this particular
juncture a candidate for the representation of the
county of Tipperary." Nevertheless, he adds imme-
diately thereupon, that he has uo obj,ction to state
quite frankly what his opinions really are upon the
two great questions now appreciably looming up for
immediate consideration, and fora speedy settlement,
as soon after as possible, within the walls of the Im-
perial Legislature. These questions, every one
will understand at once to be, no other
than the E lucational Question and the Irish
Land Question. Unlike tho majority of those
who have hitherto discovered these two immi-
nent as well as eminent problems, Mr. BERNAL
OSBORNE is more sanguine of a satisfactory settle-
ment being arrived at in regard to the Educa-
tional Question than he is of any immediate and
practical conclusion being come to in the long vexed
question in respect to the Irish Land. Besides
which he appears to look upon the former
topic as likely to take precedence of the latter
in point of time, in the deliberations of
Parliament. Anyhow he begins with it him-
self. Turning to the two questions—" First,"
he says, "as to that of Education." Meaning—if it
means anything at all—first, let us consider that,
because it will first have to be considered. Bearing
in mind that the great bulk of the population iu
Ireland is Ro:nan Catholic, he says, reasonably
enough, " it seems to me that in this vexed question
of the bringing up of the young the opinions and
wishes of the Roman Catholic hierarchy should Le
treated with due respect, in the hope of finding some
mode of adjustment. In England," he reminds his
readers, "a Conscience Clause has b. en recently intro-
duced in the national system, whereby the children of
Dissenters are not compelled to be present at the Bible
lessons or Catechism of the Established Church. So
far it appears to me [and surely there is fairplay in
hisremark !] that the demands of the Roman Catholic
bishops are not unreasonable, for if a system of
denominational instruction be maintained in Eng-
land, where the majority are Protestant, how can
it be refused to Ireland, where the majority are
Roman Catholic? Indeed, so far as concerns the
ordinary national schools of Ireland, there is practi-
cally a Conscience Clause; this does not exist in the
Government model schools, because religious subjects
are altogether excluded. [A. mild way of reminding
us all of, what are called the Godless Colleges i] I
cannot help thinking it would not be difficult
to adjust this difference on grounds equally satis-
factory both to the laity and the clergy." That is
the expression of Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE'S hopefulness
in regard to the happy solution of a problem that so
many have been half disposed to look upon askance
as all but insoluble Ile then adds, rather bluntly,
"I am not so sanguine as to an immediate settlement
of the laud question. While one side demands so much
and the other cries no surrender' it will be difficult
to hit upon a satisfactory solution of this compli-
cated question." So bewildered is he himself,
apparently, by its anticipated deliberation,
that his comments trail off into the
vaguest generalities " Whatever measure," he
says, " may be laid before Parliament, if it is to be-
come law, it must be based upon the strict principle
of justice, having for its object, not the creation of
new privileges, but the correction of old abuses;
not so much to abolish lights as to enforce duties"
—words that leave the question just precisely where
it was before. " Being strongly of opinion," he
afterwardi goes on to remark, however—" Being
strongly of opinion that the circumstances of Ire-
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legislative
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proprietorstueasure so
of
ob-
stacle to the purchase and sale of land." Then
comes the "goak"—" All Governments have hitherto
played with this question fo; party pur-