, 1877-11-11

1t IS somewhat notable Characteristic OF
Mr.. G1ApsToSE's present visit to ireland
that he reso1utely declines 10 make speeches,
although it is his frs. visit. 1t was generally
expected, when his visit WAS announced, that
he would make some public declarations on
Irish affairs. lie has always been the polti-
cal friend Of the Irish from an English stand
point of view. He has more than once ad-
yocated their measures, ind he broke down
in his vigorous effort to make the University
OF Dublin still more national. The only e1-
ception that lie has made to his rule OF
silence was upon the occasion Of his visit to
the University, where his reception was. SO
enthusiastic, and the demands of the students
so persistent, that he spoke few words,
whieh are principally remarkable for what
was left unsaid. The only pertinent SELL
tcnces in his very brief address are the fol-
lowing:
cannot tell you what think Of the weight and
moment sbat attach to Trinity College and Dublin
University. At all times, in whatever I have in
tended or meditated, can assure you my des,re
has been to sec this ancient, aud great, and dis
tnguished establishment attract to itself more and
more us u centre the whole youth OF Ireland, anu
ascend more and more TO tnat lofty position in
which it SHOULD discharse by the confession--tbe
delighted confcsson-of all men the functions OF
National University. I am That the llstin-
g1is1cd men who preside it will DO all that in
them lies to realize those bright anticipations and
that you. gentlemen. who have the happiness Of
studying within its wills. will tcel that call is
made upon you to strive for the Development and
the Improvement Of I'LL the gifts with which Proyi-
dence has endowed son; and there is no country
in which the youth are more richly endowed than
the country in which 1 have the happiness to b.
now.
The studied reserve Of Dir. GLADSTONE
has naturally attracted the attention Of the
English press> and has become the subject
Of very general discussion The London
Times assigns two or three motives for it.
First, he may have thought that the affairs
OF ireland Will for the present derive more
advantage from silence than from being
dragged into political controversy, as would
cussed them. The other motive for his
reticcnce is that he MAY have come to the
conclusion that there are more difficulties in
the way of settling Irish affnirs than there
used to be, aud that he prefers to see more
of Ireland and await events before he
makes any 'pnblic aeclarations What
ever bis motives are, the Times and
the other English papers are very much
relieved that he is slzeepingsilent,-th former
declaring that tit is difficult to conceive any
useful object which could be served by Mr..
G1ApsroSE's Intervention just now in the
controversies which occupy attention in the
sister island" The most significant sug-
gestion made by the Times is to the effect
that the University bill met its defeat in
1878 because it YVES considered to be the re-
suit of tacit alliance with the Roman
Catholic Church in ireland, and that, US Mr..
opinion on the relations Of the
public to that Church have undergone mod
lfcations, 1T may have dispelled the illu-
sion that Irish differences can be accommo-
dated by an arrangement with the Roman
Catholic hierarchy" As Mr.. GLADSTONE,
however, has given no sign that such is his
opinion. the expression Of it by the Ilin.es is
evidently in the nature Of hope which it
derives from his silence.