St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-15
sALIsBURY's IRISH POLICY.

The SALISBURY administration has
unquestionably drifted upon the most
dangerous shoals OF English politics
when it seriously proposes the endow-
ment of an Irish Catholic university,
and one that is marked by many minis
terial wrecks. Political prejudices
rapidly melt away under the heat of re-
ligiOuS intolerance. From the dawn of
civilization down to the present day, the
bittereSt feuds have originated in re-
ligious diSSenSion, and there is no
country on the face of the globe where
bigotry has had more sanguinary reign
than in England. The advanced Brit
ish civilization of this day and genera
ton has not sufficed to weaken the re-
ligiOus prejudices of the English peo-
pie. And it is all the more sim
gular that the SALISBURY government
should have hazarded its existence
while Mr.. GLADsToNE's disaster in
attempting to brave the risks of relig-
ious intolerance in the same field was
still fresh in the memory of the English
people. 1t is true that the SALISBURY
government has placed itself under OBJ
legations to the Vatican for services
rendered at time that appeared to be
a crisis in an adjustment of the Irish
home rule question. The Parnellites
held the vantage ground. from which
they could not be disiodged by the
SALISBURY ministry, and the only al
tentative the latter had was to turn to
Rome with an appeal for help. 1t is
probable that the head of the Roman
church saw his opportunity to drive
bargain with the SALISBURY ministry
by which the interests of the Roman
church could be promoted, and thus it
was the Vatican rendered effective
aid in counteractIng Mr.. O'BRIEN's
plan of campaign and in contribut-
ing moral support to BALFoUR's
efforts in restoring the supremacy of
crown law in Ireland. The cOnsidera-
ton for these services was to be the en-
dowment of a Catholic university at
Dublin; and, with scrupulous fidelity
to his promises, Lord SALISBURY now
proposes to discharge his obligations.
That it will raise tempest in Britain
goes without saying, and that the SAILS
BURY ministry will have to stand the
brunt of the storm is equally true. Yet,
if SALISBURY has the tact and diplo-
matte skill to veer English sentiment in
the direction of the scheme, he will have
accomplished the greatest progress that
England has yet made in the way of re-
ligious liberation. 1t is altogether prob
able that SALISBURY will attempt to
justify his procedure in the eyes of the
Protestant people of England upon the
ground that his aim is to disrupt
the coalition between the Irish
clergy and the Nationalist leaders. He
will endeavor to show that by alternating
the Irish priesthood from the home rule
leaders the Irish cause will be forced to
the wall and British unity be preserved
intact. 1t is just here, however. that
the Salisbury government is most liable
to strike a snag. The followers of PAR
NELL and GLADSTONE will most likely
rally to the support of the endowment
bill the moment it is introduced in par
Lament, and by their enthusiastic adj
vocacy of the measure will rob the
ministry of the prestige of its passage.
After the endowment bill has been
passed. SALISBURY will find that the
Irish clergy and the Nationalist leaders
will be in as thorough accord as they
were before its passage, and that he
has only succeeded in alternating from
his ministry the allegiance of the Pro-
testant classes.