The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-05-04
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN NEWS.
IRELAND.

IRELAND.
University Educaton.-This question,
which recently caused the defeat of Glad
stone, still agtates the public mind of Ire
land and England. Mr.. Fawcett, the
leader OF the Secularist part.r, has presented
bill providing for the scularization OF
Trinity College, and the Government has
agreed to support it as the only possible
plan left of redeemng its promise of deal
ing with the question ofhiSher Education in
Ireland. The clergy and people of Ire
land are unanimous in their opposition
to the bill, but there is no doubt that it
will pass, as the Government was de-
feated by only three majority on its own
bill, Fawcett and his party voting with the
Conservatives and Catholics, whereas the
present bill will have the combined votes
of the Liberal and Secularist parties. Says
the Cork Examiner of the l4th.
The University question is likely to be
before the country ere long in new shape.
Catholics have been bitterly reproached
because, having rejected Mr.. Gladstone's
bill, they refused to accept Mr.. Fawcetts.
We might ask when we refused the meas
ure which an avowed friend offered, why
should we profess to be content with that
is Mr.. Fawcett's bill after all Z Surely to
throw open Trinity College is an act of
liberality, and one that you cannot COM
plain of.
Timeo Danaos ct dona ferentes.
The Catholic hierarchy and people Of
Ireland oppose the measure for opening
Trinity on exactly the same principal that
they opposed the foundation of the Queen's
University. Whatever may have been the
motives of the founders, and it is late to
question them now, the foreseen effect Of
it was not to promote sectarial ascend
ancy, which is bad enough in itself, but
what is much worse to loosen altogether
the hold of religion on the young mind.
That objection lies at the root of orposi
ton to Mr.. Fawcett's bill exactly as it did
to the measure of Sir Robert Peel. If it
were necessary to add q practical ob,ec-
ton to one of principle, it might be sug-
gested that Catholics know the proceeding
is to great extent sham, a trick, mere
device to cover the retention of all the
good things oc the institution in Protestant
hands while affecting to offer them to all,
an ingenious plan of enabling the present
possessors and their successors to feed fat
at the table of Trinity while the Catholics
are invited to partake Of n Sancho Panzas
feast. This ought to be ineligible enough
if the opponents of Catholicism would only
make the most moderate effort of candour,
but that is not to be expected. On tho
contrary, they set up aud repeat cry that
the Catholic prelates are enemies to en-
lghtenment, and their followers are so be-
sotted that they sacrifice tue education of
their sons to please them. The former are
accused of a desire to keep Catholic youth
away from healthful intellectual COMPETE
ton, and it is asserted that it is with that
object alone they desire to have Ca
tholic University with the power of
granting its own degrees. These asser-
lions are about to be met in a very practical
Il 81 l..
test the sincerity with which they are
made. Should Mr.. Fawcett's bill pass
and there is but too much reason to fear
that it Wilt is the intention, as has been
already announced, of Mr.. =. j. Smyth to
propose that the Catholic University be
affiliated to tho "opened" University Of
Dublin. In that course there is at once an
answer afforded to those who say it is the
fear of competition which induces the Ca
tholic party to shrink from the mixed sys-
tenn. Here on the contrary is an offer to
push the education of the poor, starved
Catholic institution into fearless contrast
with that which is afforded by rich and
powerful Trinity. If this be rejected, we
shall at leaet be cntitled in future, to bid
those who say we fear competition hold
their impudent tongues. 1t then will be
abundantly shown that the motive of the
hostility to Catholic education is not I'M
sectarian, but bitterly and narrowly secta-
ran-that it is the mere anti Catholic
prejudice which pervades so large q por-
ton of Protestant Society in this country
and in Eugland, from the highest of high
church people down to the --LATEST form of
infidelity. If this addendum to Mr.. Faw-
cett's measure be carried it will have turn
ed his flank in manner that will surprise
more than delight him and his party. We
scarcely anticipate it, but should it result
the country would be bound to make re-
newed and strenuous efforts to enable the
ODlVerSltX ha
petition it had undertaken with augmented
vigor However, it is perhaps premature
to discuss contingency which has not
arisen, and may not; and besides there is
no reason to fear that Ireland will be want
ing when a call is made upon her in vindi-
cation of her faith.
IendnfS RightS.-Itis curious to observe
how we Irish lead the way in legislative
ideas. few-years ago our Tenant-right
agitation was ridiculed in England: in
England they are now introducing u Te-
nant-right Bill of their own. What is
mn cfrnY, ,aA