The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-25
The New Reform Bill for the Uni
vorsity OF Dublin.

The New Reform Bill for the Uni
vorsity OF Dublin.
Another bill, having for its object the re-
form of what is called the University of
Dublin, is now before the House of Commons.
On Monday last this bill was passed to its
second reading. Professor Fawcett's bill
the bill now before the House-must not be
COMPOUNDED with the recent government
measure, nor must it in any sense be re-
garded as sequel to the same. It is, though
not new, on entirely Independent measure.
1t is hardly to be denied that but for Mr..
Fawcetts bill the defeated government
measure would never have taken shape.
1t is fair, however, to say that Mr..
Gladstone's bill was much the grander,
It was intended to be, and it was
really we'll worthy to be, his crowning effort
in the direction Of Irish reform. The Irish
Catholics, however, who demand and refuse
to be satisfied with anything short Of denom-
national, or, as they call it. concurrent
endowment, would not have Mr.. Gladstone's
reform; and SO the government measure
came to grief and brought grief to it's friends.
The failure Of Mr.. Gladstones bill did not
daunt the brave Cambridge Professor, and his
pluck and perseverance promise to be re-
warded with success. In its present form
Professor Fawcetts bill is very different from
what it was originally. In its original shape,
in addition to providing for the abolition of
religious tests it provided for the reorganiza-
ton Of the University by the creation of
special council for that purpose. The COM
position of that council was ill adapted to
satisfy the Irish Roman Catholics, the concilia-
ton of whom has oil along and confessedly
been the principal object aimed at in any ut
tempt at Irish University reform, and for
this reason it provoked the hostility of Mr..
Gladstone and the other members Of the gov
eminent. Mr.. Fawcett again and again modi-
fed his bill, but his alterations were not
successful in removing the initial objections
His grand mistake was that he attempted to
reorganize the University by council COM
posed Of elements already inside of Trinity
College For example, in addition to seven
fellows Of Trinity College, elected by the fei.
lows, there were to be four professors elected
by the professors and four graduates elected
by the graduates. This, as Mr.. Gladstone and
others pointed out, was virtually calling upon
Trinity College to open its own doors and SO
admit the hitherto excluded Roman Catholics
to share Of its privileges, its honors and its
emoluments-an act of generosity which
Trinity College has never shown itself yery
willing to perform. In his new bill mo. 8,
as it is called, Mr.. Fawcett lets drop the
provisions which relate to the government
and constitution of the University, and con-
fines himself mainly to the abolition of tests
Out of the whole number of senior and Junior
fellows of Trinity College all but three ao-
cording to the existing statutes, must be in
holy orders. This arrangement, in addition
to excluding Roman Catholics, has been a
growing source of annoyance to the clever
young men of the University. The new bill
provides that 'no person elected to fellow
ship or other Office shall be deprived
of his Office by reason that he is
not or does not become ordained in
holy orders" This is the bill which,
contrary to the expectation of many, has been
passed to its second reading, and which, it is
now reasonable to presume, will become law
before the close of the present session Of Par
lament. The abandonment of those clauses
of the bill which related to the government
and constitution of the University left the
bill in so simple shape and provided for SO
desirable and just reform, that the govern
ment found IL necessary to withdraw its oppo-