New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-25
THE LATE BRITISH CRISIS.
TIE REJECTION OF THB UNIVERSITY BILL

REJECTION BY THE CATHOLICS OF THE PRO-
POSED CoNCEsSIoNs-MR. GLADsTONE's AN
NOUHCEHENT OF THE COURSE OF THE MIN
IsTRY.
Iyaoh THR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRBUSB.I
LONDON March 13.-As the issue Of the Ministerial
Crisis is not known at the hour when begin this
letterndeed the decision is to be taken at the Cab
met Council this morning-I will confine myself TO
abatement Of the causes which led to it, and OF the
circumstances which make it one of the most singu-
lar in recent Parliamentary history. IL won't 90 20
10 too far back in newspaper letter. OF should Dc
tempted to seek the great first cause IN MI Uiaa-
stone himself and especially in those odd character
ixties of his which every now and then come TO the
surface and when they do impair his abilities and
almost neutraze his great qualities He led OF this
session with programme in which everything was
made 10 WELD precedence 10 measure OF lrlsh Uni
sersty Education. He announced that he meant to
attempt the impossible. Having announced 1t. no
human power could persuade him that the imposs-
HE might not IN his hands become the possible. He
made il Cabinet question-amatter of life or death
to his administrations test of confidence no con-
hdonce in his government and in himself Many of
his liberal supporters impored him to let his Irish
bill stand on its own merits demerits and be
Judged and voted on irrespectively of its high au-
tborsbip-tO take il out of politics, in word.
But il is one of Mr.. Gladstones weaknesses to
wish to seem always strong. He refused. 1t is
known that down to Monday of this week. he
believed. as think wrote in my last letter, that
the second reading could be carried by narrow
majority, and that enough of the original bill could
be saved in Committee to cover the honor of the
Government. He knew before Monday that he had
not the remOtest chance of carrying the bill through
both Houses in its original shape anything like it,
UnluCkily il seemed TO him more dignifed to be
beaten in detail in Committee and his bill
emerge from Committee enasculated but still under
the name Of Irish University BILL than to with
draw it frankly. These the tactics resolved on
Mr. Vernon HarcOurt, who speaks more often against
the Government than for It, consented TO come to Mr.
Gladstones rescue. With his aid which was counted
on TO divide the independent Liberals opposed
10 the bill, and with official declaration of
abe readiness of Government to agree to almost any
modification after she second reading should have
been carried it was believed that the ignomny of
surrender in form might be averted So perverse
however is Fate that the very means which were
devised to save the bill killed it. Mr. Harcourt
thought to win over doubling Liberals by declaring
the principle of the scheme TO be mixed education
Possibly he saved some English and Scotch votes by
this declaration; but the moment it was made, and
When it was confirmed by Mr.. Cardwell, speaking
in the name of the Government, the doom of the
measure was sealed. Not Irish member who
cared for his seat dared vote for it thus expounded
can hardly be doubted that out of these SO support
ers Of the Government two three at least would
have found courage to stick by their leader if the
ground had not been cut from under their feet
And two votes changed would have carried the sec
ond reading and we should have had no Crisis.
Never perhaps was a Government in more diff
cult position than this Government last week They
had drawn their bill with view to secure, not
Catholic support at least Catholic liberation. They
~ ,e.o,..o rlsaffo hot
there was every prospect that the Catholics would
In time and no very long time, acquire substantial
control of the proposed University. The Bishops
nevertheless Numbered against the whole scheme
A. yehemently as if it gave them nothing. Protes-
tant England already alarmed at the extent OF the
offered concession, with delight and with no
little amazement that the proffered boon had been
rejected angrily and CONTEMPORARY. Mingled
with this Joy was secret suspicion that the hostility
Of the Bishops might be assumed OF exaggerated.
IN any case the offer was not one TO be forced on
unwilling benefciaries. Its rejection proved that
there was no common ground which Protestant
Government and Roman Catholic hierarchy could
meet so far as education is concerned. Mr. Glad
stone always suspected of leaning toward Ultra
Ioontanism had offered more than he could induce
Parliament OF the people of England to grant. Even
this offer the Bishops spurned. The bill which was
20 pacify Ireland had exasperated it more than ever
both Catholic and Protestant repelliDg it, one be-
cause it did not give enough the other because 1T
gave too much.
The situation was made so plain that every man
In the three Kingdoms Mr. Gladstone excepted, saw
II in it's true Eght. If Mr.. Gladstone did not, it was
because he would not, because pride had dmmed
his vision and his natural sagacty could not save
him from taking line he would in his cooler mo
nents have seen to be headstrong and foolish. The
NoDeonformista the sectaries of Scotland and
Wales the Evangelical party all over England,
were as much alarmed as the Catholic Bishops We're
tritated No single mistake could destroy popular
confidence in leader so long tried as Mr.. Glad
stone; but seldom has a single mistake 20 rudely
shaken leaders hold on his followers. One thing,
any rate, became clear that the Imperial Parlla-
will not cOncede to any extent OF in any form
Che principle of State-aided education under the d.
rection Of Catholic Bishops and priests. IL concur
rent endowment be unalterable condition 10 the
pacifcatiOn of Ireland, Ireland will have to remain
sgOod while unpseifed Mr. Gladstone has strained
his powers, perhaps even his conscience, vanly
Where he has failed, no living Enghshman need
hope to succeed II MI Disraeli likes to go TO the
country with this cry in his mouth, he will rouse
such a storm in the towns as England has not seen
sinee the days of Catholic Emancipation, and with
avery different result. NV criticism On Mr.. Glad
Stone detrscts nothing from the praise due him for
the yigor Of his effort. 1t needed that the effort
should be made, and made in this way, to prove its
futility.
AJteraoOR.-Mr. Gladstone has made his statement,
81 be promised when the House adjourned Tuesday,
but the meaning of il is not clear. Out Of the Cab
met circle few people know what has 8ct0-
ally occurred and what has been resolved on. 1t
~as known yesterday that Mr. Gladstone had de-
termned to treat the adverse vote as a vote imply