The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-20
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
ITS AFFAIRS NOT IN AN UNsATIS-
FACTORY CONDITION.

The Fewness OF the Students in At
tendance Explained by the Fact That
the University is Post-grsduate In
stitution-It Was Not Discussed at
the Conference of Archbishops.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The attention
OF RI Rev. John J. Keane, rector Of the
Catholic University of America, was to-
day called to a statement sent out from
New York last night by the United Press
Association concerning the alleged discus
sion by the conference Of Catholic arch
bishops in New York yesterday of the con-
dition of the Catholic University In this
city. In this statement it was said that the
university Is not In a state wholly satisfac-
tory TO the church authorities and that 10 is
by no means the success it promised to be
when 1t was established two years ago. The
statement as sent out by the United
Press further says: "At that time
professors and instructors eminens
in their own departments were So
lected from Europe and America to flI
the several chairs and it was autici-
pnted that students would flock
to the institution In large numbers.
The ult has been that the number
VI Ou bHc university Toll
scarcely more than the membership of the
faculty. This unfortunate condition Of
distrust is alleged to be due In measure to
the malairott publication Of a pamphlet ON
the subject of education by one OF the
faculty, which 10 said to have been disap-
proved of iin Rome and was not In conso-
nance with the ideas OF a majority of the
Catholic clergy In this country. This
pamphlet was issued by DIR. Bouquillon,
who came from the University of Lille,
France. having been appointed TO the chair
OF moral theology In Washington by Bishop
Keane, president OF the university. Gem
eral exceptions were taken 10 the tenor Of
this pamphlet. which was pronounced In it's
argument In favor of state supervision over
paroohial schools. 1t was argued
that the orthodoxy OF tho university
should be above suspicion, and all
its teachings should be in perfect accord
with the decisions of the holy see and the
decree Of the Baltimore council"
BISHOP KEANE's STATEMENT.
Bishop KeAne read the article in question
and to the representative of the Associated
Press made the following general statement,
which may be followed by one more specific
10 character II, upon inquiry. the bishop
learns that the university was one of the
subjects discussed in yesterdays conferences
i have no reason to believe that the unis
versity has been In any way discussed at the
meeting of the arohbishops in New York.
l consider ii very unlikely, since the affeirs
of the university are in the hands of board
OF directors, five Of whom are archbishops
and who hold meetings annually, the last
meeting having been held in last May. The
assertion that the affairs Of the university
are in an unsatisfactory condition seems on
the face Of it, gratitious. To say
the least No such conclusion was
reached by the board OF directors, who
raraffliW lOOkad into kha af Of ..s,f.
versity last May.
'The statements in regard to the studies
OF the students Of the university cannoh
have emanated from any one who has au-
thoritative knowledge OF the nature Of the
institution, and who Is willing to do is JUS
tice. In the first place it is post-graduAte
institution exclusively. and any one ac-
quainted with university methods knows
that that means many professors aud few
students. Any one may ascertain this by
referring TO the other postgraduate institu-
tions OF the country.
Next IL never was expected, as the tele-
gram in question asserts, that students
would flock to IL in great numbers. This is
manifest not only from the reason just
given. but also from the plain
fact that the students being thus
far ONLY ecclesiastical students have
no power Co flock TO the university
ar anywhere else, but must go where their
bishops ssnd them. The bishops of the
country nave again and again declared that
they would gladly send more students, but
that the difficulty of supplying the needs OF
the parishes renders 10 impossible for them
to send as many as they would wish. The
allegation that the fewness OF the students
Is caused by spirit of distrust, and that
this Is, In some degree. owing to DIR. Bou-
quillons pamphlet on the school question,
has no foundation, In fact. Before DIR.
Bouquillon's pamphlet appeared a list Of
students had been completed not only for
the years 1889 and 1890, but also for the
year 1891. The pamphlet could evidently,
therefore, have had no bearing upon the
number Of students during the past three
years That 10 has had no such effect this
year is manifest from the fact that several
bishops who found 10 impraoticable to send
students before have this year managed to
do so, and that not one OF the former
patrons Of the university has in any way
shown distrust. nor an unwillingness to send
students as before. IL Is true that DIR. Bou-
Quilions pamphlet was found fault with in
Rome, but only by those who were then
finding fault with Archbishop Ireland, nay,
who were assailing him with such unseemly
violence that the pope himself ha 1 to put g
stop to it. The final decision of the
holy see has been vindication
both OF Archbishop Ireland and
DR.. Bouquillon. We are not sur
that controversy should show their feelings
by such insinuations as those which have
Of late been laid before the pub
lie. Thank God, the affairs OF the uni
versity are in splendid shape. The course
Of divinity is now well established and
courses Of philosophy, letters and sciences
win be opened to the lsity Of the country
In 1S94.n
NOT DISCUSSED AT THE CONFERENCE.
Later in the day Bishop Keane said: sT
have positively ascertained that the asser-
tion that the affairs of the university were
discussed at q meeting of the archbishops in
New York was q pure fabrication. The
motive which inspired it needs no comment.
1t is a new instance Of the selfish and inter
estsd hostility which has never
lost opportunity to prejudice public
opinion against the university. Fortunately
the university and its credit are too well
established to fear anything from such
tactics. We're this not the case, it might
be considered worth while 20 ferret out the
authors of the calumnious insinuations and
to deal with them as they deserve, but we
can afford TO leave them TO the poor enjoy
ment OF their malignity."