New-York tribune., 1873-03-17
THE IRISH UNIVERSITY QUESTION.

ment of Parliament will be asked for on Monday.
THE IRISH UNIVERSITY QUESTION.
HOW THE OPPOSITION TO MIR. GLADsToNE's BILL
GATHERED rRENGTH-GRNERAL CONDEM-
NATION BY ALL PARTIES IN IRELAND-POSI-
TION OF THE ROMAN CATHoLICS-RESOLU-
TIONs OF THE PRELATEs-RESoLUTIONS OF
THE PRESBYTERIANS-ACTIoN OF LEARNED
INSTITUTIONS.
The more the Irish University bill is considered,
the more apparent the characteristics which dis
oualify Mr.. Gladstone from being successful par
6smentary leader The bill was an attempt to form
aoompronise where compromise was impossible.
The chief feature which distinguished his bill from
that of Mr. Fawcett was his evident desire to go be-
yond the latter and produce scheme which would
not only deprive the Roman Catholics of the pretext
upon which their demands were based, but would
also crafty their aspirations. The plan was laud-
able if those aspirations could be justified on any
sound theory of political sciences but it was inju-
dicious from more practical point of view, cOnsid-
orng that their demands were inconsistent with the
well known opinions or prejudices of majority OF
the inhabitants of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Gladstone in his effort to cOnclate the Roman
Catholics appears to have neglected the simplest pre-
cautions to secure their support for his bill or even
ascertain whether they would be satisfied with his
concessions. He was so unsuccessful in etiecting
scheme was made public the opposition was de-
yelcped which frustrated his purpose and rendered
his defeat certain. In that time the only important
declaration in his favor was that of Magee College
one of the educational establishments which he pro-
posed to affiliate with the reorganiZed Dublin Uni
yersity But il to the interest of this Dsti
tuition than any of the other affiliated colegesto sup
port the Government measure, for 1t had the prospect
ofobtanng privileges for its students which it could
not otherwise enjoy. The plan of the Government,
20 far as any compromise between the factions IN
Ireland was concerned, was speedily shown 10 be
failure. 1t was rejected by Irish Catholics and
Protestants and. with the exception of Magee Col
lege by all the learned institutions which were to
be affected. The action of the Roman Catholics
was awaited with the greatest anxiety among the
Liberals Twenty of those prelates discussed the
bill for three or four days in the City of Dublin.
Two Of them held ont for some time, but eventually
the meeting unanimously adopted resolutions reiter-
atiug condemnation of mixed education and, cOnse-
Quently the measure of the Government. No great
surprise was produced for several days previous,
Archbishop McHae declared that the scheme
Of the Government was goddess" and
that the Catholics of Ireland would
seyer obtain what they wanted until they should secure
Home Rule The following is the text of these import
ant resolutions which signed on the 2S,h OF Feb
ruary behalf OF the meetlng Dy OdIulhdI NuiIcHJ
Bishop Conroy, and Bishop McDermott:
RESOLUTIONS OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PRELATEs.
l. That. viewing with alarm the widespread ruin
taused 5y goddess systems Of education and adherng
10 the declaration Of the Holy See' we reiterate the con
domination OF mixed education as fraught with danger
10 that divine faith which is 10 be prized above al
please God" Heb xi. o. and "What is man prOfted,
nhe shall gain the whole world and lose his own SOUR
a That while we sincerely desire for the Catholic
youth Of Ireland full participation in the advantage on
University education and in the hOnOrs, prizes, ana de
rees intended for the encouragement OF learning, we
are constrained by sense OF the duty we owe TO our
hooks 10 declare that the plan OF University education
nov before Parliament as being framed on the principle
ofmxed aud purely secular education i such as Cath
ono youth cannot avail themselves OF without danger 10
That the distinguished proposer Of this measure,
poesiming he does IN his opening speech that the
condition OF Roman Catholics in Ireland In regard 10
University education is "miseraby bad. scandaOusly
bad" and protesting redress this admitted grievance
Stlngs forward measure sngulaTy inconsistent WIN
ma professions BECAUSE instead OF redressng II perpet
yates that grievance, uphoding two out OF three OF the
teeene Colleges, ana planting IN the metropolis TWO
other great teaching Institutions, the in principle
That, putting out Of view the few Catholics who
may avail themselves Of mixed education, the bill,
without ts being avOwed in point Of fact gives 70
Protestant EpscOpalians, Presbyterians and 10 the
University education in this country VIZ, 10 Trinity
NSlege some 10000 or more, some splendid holdings,
TO the Cork College 10000; 10 the Belfast College,
$1,000; while to the Catholic University is given
ihngi ana, furthermore, the Cathonc people OF ire.
pAf OF ~ are left 10 provide themselves with endOW-
nths iOr their Colleges out Of their own resources.
mat TINS injustice is aggravated by another creum
sahce Tie measure provides that the degrees and
Les the new University shall be open 70 CathOcsbut
AWOydes Tor Catholics endwed intermediate schools
- ehdOwments IOr their College; no welstOcked
hDary, museum. OF other collegiate requisite; pro-
sslCnal staf, nor the for coping on fair and
sq1a Terms with their Protestant OF other competitors,
aod then Catholics thus Overweigbted are told that
tAey are Tree 10 contend IN the Tor University
przes and other distinctions.
ihai as the legal owners Of the Catholic University,
Isi s the same time acting on behalf OF the Catholic
iooPe Of Ireland, for whose advantage and by whose
seherosy u has been established in the exercise Of
80 s Hght OF OwnerslIp, will not consent 10 the
LaIOh OI The Catholic University 10 the new UDiver
ny unless the proposed scheme be largely modified;
asa We have The objection 10 the aihliaton Of
",heI Catholic Colleges IN Ireland
4Aat now more than ever II DehOOyes the Catholics
ireland 10 cOntribuestO the support OF the Catholic
Nbfersity the one only institution OF the kind in the
country where Catholic youth receive University
ooueatiOn based upon religion.
That We address 10 the Imperial Parliament peti-
obs eInbOdyng these resolutions, and pray Tor the
amendment OF the bill.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE PREsBYTERIAss.
The views Of another important class OF persons who
eAefeised great influence upon the fate OF the bi are
s1oNn IN the resolutions adopted al Belfast the 24ih
"februay by the Committee appointed by the General
Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to
sS'eb over the progress Of the University question
'neet Resolutions follows:
n, We are Of opinion that through the University OF
Dln any person In Ireland, wherever educated should
NJ Examination q We approve the proposal IN the
St separate the theological faculty fr0m the Unlyer-
~, Dublin aud from Trinity College. 3. We believe
warmly College should DC opened w that its secular