New-York tribune., 1873-03-13


Altbonpb. at various times within the last month,
particulars have published OF the dncult prooe
which Mr. Gladstone has att empted to sove IL s "oA
while at this juncture to explain 1t an detail.
The only universities Ireland capable OF eonferrins
degrees are Trinity College. at Dublin ana the queen
University which has colleges in the provinces Oh OE
ster Munster and Connaught- Trinity College Is inc
odr foundation and has always been the chief nursery
NJ the late State Church In Ireland. The governing
body must be chiefly composed Of Protestant bpiSco
palan divines and every agnitary OF the louhuaiol
without exception. must be OF the favored creed' Oh
17a5 IL accessible TO Protestant students aiono
Noneonformists were then made eligible to number OF
pr,zes but il is STILL as the authorities recently said,
chased on the principles OF the Protestant religion and
distinguished by It's Protestant constitution Its whole
history and associations are purely and eXCh-
syey Protestant; and its literature and philosophy
are, in a great degree. Of Protestant complexion
These circumstances naturally have the tendency of
practically excluding Roman Catholic students who
only average from so TO 80 out OF population OF more
than 100000 sOulsfrOm five TO per cent OF all the
students attendance OF course, it possesses attrac
tons alone and is regarded with little
sympathy by Roman Catholics.
Nearly years ago the necessity was felt for provid
ing means for higher education in Ireland which would
be open 10 Roman Catholics. The principles upon
which the Queens Colleges and Universities were or
gani secular type. The course Of studies
was limited secular subjects and admission was iree
all persons without regard 10 creeds The same rule
was applied 10 the dgnitaries examiners, and
professors OF the institutions, and no kind OF
religious teaching was made necessary part
Of collegiate discipline. At the same time encour'
agement was given to the voluntary religious teaching
OF the students the clergy Of all the Irish churches
were invited minister their spiritual wants, subject
to the approval Of parents and guardians MT PEEL 10
whom idea OF this organization is chiefly 10 be as
cribed hoped that goodwill and harmony would thus be
t,a
doubted that Roman Catholics, whose benefit he had
manly in view would largely avail themselves Of these
privileges
These calculations have not been realized. The num-
Der of Roman Catholic students has never exceeded one
third and in years oneourth Of the Protes
tants There Is then felt TO be odous distinction IN
the case of Trinity College which the more loudly con-
demned the class whose requirements it fails to meet
is numerically the largest in Ireland. OF the total popu
lation of the island there 4199s Roman Catholics
who have 800 University students against 16 or more
than five times many furnished by the l,n453S Pro
testants. Making allowances for apossible e&cesso
Roman Catholics who ineapacitated by reason Of
their poverty from sending their children to the UDiver
sites another classification will show the same result
There are 8576 Roman Catholic propreors OF land ana
66Ss24 more engaged IN commerce, trade manufactures
mechanics and in the learned tand liberal professions;
the Protestants in the categores are 1896 and
2642s1 Thus capable of sending their children
"a V
dents, and 26s.I27 Protestants have l,eeosudents
Numerous expedients have been proposed as a solu-
ton Of this question Prominent among them 10 that OF
Mr. Fawoett which reference has already been made
The most important feature Of his plan Is the complete
seeuarizauOn of Trinity College. and the throwing open
of its offices and hOnors to all its members whatever
their creed At the time he would divide the gov
ernnen and the administration between two boards in
some measure elected by popular suffrage but IN the
main composed OF present authorities. He proposes
therefore 10 abolish religious tests OF description
as conditions being awarded the prizes OF the place.
and make slight change in the rulers only Having
BY these MEANS secured complete seotarian equality
and provided for certain. gradual progress, he be-
eves that he would have met every just requirement OF
Ireland as to University education.
Several other plans have been proposed One Of these
proceeds on the assumption that the only grievance of
the Roman Catholics which the State can consider is
that owing 70 their convictions they prevented from
seeking degrees Trinity College and the Queens Uni
versty 1t is suggested that a remedy University
should be set mp in Dublin Of the type the Uni
versty OF London, and that students from places Of
learning in Ireland who stood the test Of adequate
examination should be entitled TO obtain degrees from
it, In this way a class would be formed composed
mostly OF students trmned in Roman Catholic colleges
and superior schools. The objection to tins plan is that
il would not reform the present University system, but
would establish third institution in poor country
Another scheme was devised an Improvement
on this, by which the University should take
into account extent, in the examinations cert1-
Gates OF merit which the colleges should be authorized
70 issue 70 deserving students But this plan would sim
ply modify instead OF removing the objections raised
against the preceding one.
The plan Of Mr Gladstone incorporated the leading
idea Of Mr. the secalarzauon OF Trinity Col
ege. But his bill contained minuteness OF detail for
winch ne had already acquired some distinction on
former occasions. His bill was introduced inso the
House Of Commons the 18th Of February. In long
speech which he delivered the occasion. he
explained the principal points which he had in
view. Before proceeding to describe the mode in
which this principle 70 be carried out, he
mentioned that the Queens Colleges of Belfast and Cork
were 10 be retained and that the Galway College was TO
be wound up in 1876 and that il wOuld be proposed 10
merge the Queens University into Dublin University
The bill would proceed two principles which had
been already applied the reform OF the English Uni
versites that IS tests would be abolished and the Uni
yersitv ernancipated from the colleges members wOnd
be introduced into the University not belonging to any
Of the colleges and the colleges would be taxed FOR the
benefit OF the University In some points, how
ever would be necessary TO depart from the English
precedent-for instance a limit must be placed on
academical teaching; and. for time at least, the gov
erning body must be subjected to the action Of the
Crown and of Parliament
The bin contemplated three periods On January !,
1878 the powers exercised by the provost and
senior fellows of Trinity College in relation Ia
the University 10 be handed over 10
the new governing body then was to
follow provisional period during which certain special
were 10 prevail land after 1885, when the
new system should be fully developed, the permanent
rnes were 70 come force. First Of ALL the Univer
v of Dublin was 10 incorporated, which IL never has
been vet; the Theological Faculty was TO
he separated from Trinity College and handed
aver 10 the representative body OF the dsestablished
,r.b With conpensation for vested interests and a