, 1873-03-16
LONDON.
tTr Gladstone and the Irish
University Question.
AField.Might in the House Of Com
mons.
Distinguished Auditors--A Three
Hours Speech by the
Premier.

From Our O.cn Correspondent.
LONDON, Feb. Is, 1879.
Punch this week, has ono Of those cartoons
which, from time to time, put very happily, in
vell-dravn pictures, tho political situation Of
thu hour Mr. Gladstone is pounding along on
the back OF a large Irish hunter, rapidly ap-
prosching heavy wall, on which are the words,
aIrish University Education" In his rear arc
other high fences which he has already lcaped,- -
.uThe Irish Church" and "The Irish Lnnd
Question" Afr. Gladstone has his animal we'll
in hand and is looking into tho distance with
= resolute eye. "Wiu He Clear It p The
reader who goes BY tho cartoon is inclined to
think that he will. TLore is wonderful power in
the frame Of the steople-ch:ser: and tho rider
countenance e1pressca belief that he's safe.
But
TIE SITUATION Is CRITICAL.
Can Protestant Administration govern n
Roman Catholic country by Protestant ldeas,-a
Roman Catholic country, too, which is Ultra
rnontane to tha core AL over Europe VIC SEQ
the governments ut war with the Catholic theory.
The dogma Of Papal infa1libi1ity strengthens
that dangerous etate within the state which has
always been a trouble to governors. Tho contest
Is waged by means Of etrict legislation, By e1-
prlsion By forfeiture Of ecclesiastical property.
England alone is On tho other tack. This Pro-
testant Ministry draws towards the church with
gifts, with concessions, with fair words and en-
ticing smilcs "Irelznd is without University
education because sho won't take it as We like
to have it." snys the Premier. "1s she to
go On without culture; or are We to accept the
position, aud provide that sho may receive tie
higher education in her own way?" That his
is "her own way" is not 60 clear as yet; We
leaders have spoken; but the object Of the Gov
eminent is Us have said. Tho priests would
infinitely prefer the direct endowment Of their.
own colleges, and, though that is impracticable,
clear way Is now suggested by which their stu
dants may como out Of their training-places and
get emoluments in competition With the rest OF
the world.
4 FIELD NIGHT.
The Duke OF Cambridge generally comes down
to tho House Of Commons On nights Of great
debate He sits in the centre Of the front gal
lery, opposite the Treasury bench, and looks
down on Mr. Gladstone with face that does not
bespeak uubonndcd trust The Premier il to
tho Commander-in-C Chief evidently ''a dangerous
person, ,"-one, perhaps, whom he would like to
dispose Of by the summary process Of court
martial Not many years ago, when Nr. Disraeh
was attacking Mr.. Gladstone, and accusing him
OF revolutionary Designs tho Duko 80 far forgot
himself ns to join in tho ehout Of applause which
the Conservatives raised. He listened tonight
With an air OF dissent. But he Is subject to the
ciTI power, and NJ Gladstone has already
caused him toBwallow some disagreeable boluses.
Hs detested the abolition Of the purchase Of
commissions in the nr1ny. but he had to choose
between accepting it nnd eeasng o to a h,,n
and tho fringes OF white hair recall the photo
era.hs Of tho Emperor Of Germany. 4 =ho}erlc
1atme,-one given to strong oaths, and careless /
Of pnnctlio: tho Duke, neyeEthelcss' ls not IN
fry, and, with the fund Of enobbery there is in
the British people, it is so easy for Royal Duko
to keep we'll in the public eye.
On the Dukes LETT are batch Of Peers,-most
of them Cabicet MinisteIs.-dr2Tn to tee Com
mons By tho magic Of Mr. G1adst store's e1oqncnce;
and. despite the revolution in the law which the
new Lord Chancellor il detailing in their own
chamber, Earl Granville is q delightful |
listener. He is eo polite q nan that his very |
attitude pays you compliment. Ho has o way |
Of throwing his arms oYe- the front raj, aud |
resting his chin upon :he top, which is really |
fctterfng sight to the gentleman who is speak- !
bishop Wilberforce tho saporaceous"
oreIote go known to fane-stts between the /
Earl and the Duke Of Argyll The Bishop has
lost some OF that smoothneas Of face which We
associate with him. Either age or caro- has !
given him eterne1 look.
The Duke Of Argyll with his bright-red hair ]
carefully brushed from his forehesd, is stlu the
IS intellectual young man OF the Mechanics In
etitute. He is in evening dress, and wears hugo
white necktie,-4o large q one thnt it catches
your attention
Prince Christinn, who is On the Dukes right !
hand, is noncntity in Englsh enai1s. He
married one Of the Qneen's dsn,ghteTa, ,1 IT, and he
: Behind the gallery in which these distinguished
visitors are citing, arc long rows OF strangers,
Mlesian o1igin,-the Irish Bishop and priest be-
ing conspicuous among them The eide guile
ries are occ1p;ed fy members, and no bench be-
low is untitled. .
ENTERING TIE HOUSES.
A1r. Gladstone and Mr.. Disraeli, unlike in 80
many things, arc unlike, TOO IN their manner Of
sips % Il With = rapid step, from behind the
frons h bsneh, you see him there. 1Lr
Disraen takos an opposite course. He
from his seat. On 6eld-night he ordinarily
gtayg away until the chamber is full and curious.
Shortly before s o'clock, he saunters in,-his
cost unbuttoned and thrown back, one hand
holding out bis hat some lttio wy OF, big step
6sner stGna OF Tbere;a ia15i: pizzs Whers a#bV
Just going up the floor to his seat" "ohI see
him. Dear me! 60 it is. Does he know these
tious, and loves power and lame; but I don't
think he cares straw tor Little demonstrations
of this sort.
But it is time re had reached
dIApsToNEs SPEECH.
Standing at the table, waiting; for the cheers
to subside, Mr.. Gladstone looks capable, il so
minded Of prodigious effort. Despite his air Of
tips Of his fingers touching the
table, his ehnrply,cut head turned towards the
{arthest ond Of tho House,-ho gives one tho
that, at word, he can let the thun-
de1s fy from his hand. Tonight there is to be
40 storm, no Lightning, or whirlwlnd. The en-
deavor Is to be concili:tory, to inform and con-
VINCE
He opens with harmony. It is sweet to henr
The head OF the British Government aver, with
out fear OF contradiction, in tho presence Of the
representatives of Ireland. that, in that
country, industry is 'ourishing, that
he wealth Of the: community, at
arge rapidly increases. Pleasant. too, to know
hat order is respected that ordinary crime IS
less than in England /; that asrasian crime has
greatly diminished; and that; in ls!2, there
xas not in the whole of ireland, one troasonnbie
o1ense. Poor John Mitchell Stephens,
oDono7an Rossa, and the rest. Can it DO that