New-York tribune., 1873-03-21
THE IRISH UNIVERSITY BILL.

OPINIONS N GREAT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ON
TEE POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT.
IYRoH TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNBl J
LONDON. March st is plain enough that the
Irish University bin is at this moment, az Mr..
Gladstone puts It. in the trough of the wave; not 50
PLAN what sufficient reason he has for hoping il may
sOon be on the crest Most large bills doubt pass
through period Of depression before their second
reading, and Mr.. Gladstone perhaps thinks his
present measure is not suffering severely than
some others that preceded il, which, nevertheless,
came to a vigorous maturity. The enemy always
strong in the early part Of great debate on
bill dealing with a really great question, as Irish
education certainly is But it would be idle TO deny
that the hostility to this bill is varied and remark
able in character as 20 imperl its success 1t was
meant as a compromise between the Catholic and
Protestant parties in Ireland, OF at any rate meant
70 eODeilate their opposition, and thus expected TO
enlist strong support from both. In effect, II has
oonciliated nobody, and gets no important support
IRON any party or faction of a party IN Ire
land The Roman Catholic Bishops are furious
against il. The Protestants of Ulster are hardly less
% The Irish Liberal Members of the House of Com
mons bave met and informed Mr.. Gladstone that
they cannot support it. The press is against it.
Pabis opinion IN the House is more strongly and
generally against it than / have known il to be
against any important measure whatever durlng
tins Parliament The Tories WILL of course, vote
sod against the second reading and they viii be re-
enforced by unusually strong section of inde-
pendent Liberals who sit below the gangway. The
speeches Of Mr.. Fawcett, Dr. Lyon Playfair, and
M Horsman produced very great impression on
NE House, and though Lord Harrington and Mr.. Chi
enesier Fortescue and Mr.. Lowe himself.have been
put up 70 answer them, tn ey remain unanswered,
and TO great extent unanswerable. On the other
RAND, TIE Government has thus far shown no dispo-
ht0n TO withdraw the bill OF TO modify il essen
ey and 30 long IL persists il can probably carry
mo the lobby majority, narrow though il be, for
lie second reading of the bill The cohesion of the
'~Deral party is still strong its discipline good;
Aho stronger than both together is the fear
On that dissolution which Mr.. Gladstone is
s0"ught TO be ready TO pronounce if beaten. Mem
ces are not yet ready for general election and if
ey were there Is no good popular cry TO be got out
oi the IRISH University bill An election on this
hsae would be confused and more like an immense
shlIflsh than good set battle with the lines On
ooth s1des wen defined The press may add. rather
ezaggefates the situation. Members of the House
% o shoukn H independent on other questions usually
soS Win government on any vital point invoIvin, 2,
.L y. .,s iHuo55ee, say That II the vote had been
been carried, though the majority Ynie,,,, 80 h
Detn large enough 70 insure the utimate 80, 20
Tie Bill Cabinet meeting is To be- he'd 49, -, @ W
noon az winch decision OF some sOr1 on tba f,t =
conduct VI TIE measure will il rs upaerstood o
G.. W. s.