The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-03-12
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY DEBATE.
A most interesting debate on unlve

land took place in the British parlia
ment on Feb. Is, when John Dillon
moved an amendment to the queens
speech. demanding that the Irish Catho,
lies be placed on footing Of equality
with their fellcw-countrymen of other
religious denominations In all matters
concerned with university education.
One of the first members to oppose any
| legislation for higher education fol
Catholics was the doughty Orangeman
Col. Saunderson, who said 1t was not tho
government that handicapped the Irish
Catholics, but their own church. He
warned the government of the danger tC
be encountered by it's granting the
Catholic demand and declared that ii
! was an attempted settlement of the edll-
catic 1al question that shattered Glad
stones government in 1874 T. NJ. Healy
followed the Orangeman in a magni-
ticent address, The honorable gentle
man has said" exclaimed Heuly, that lie
is no Gigot. Cromwell said exactly the
same thing. Cromwell said, Il am entire
/ ly in favor Of freedom of religious opin-
ion.' but said he, if by that you mean the
practice Of the mass, then | will take the
| head off anybody who says the mass.
, Cromwell, as we know. was no bigot, and
no more is the honorable and gallant
| gentleman. N.aughter).
Continuing. Mr.. Hcay said that the
British government had abandoned per-
sccntion of Catholics; that every
office in tho state. except the SOY
cregnty. is now open to Catholics and
that Catholics should have the opportu-
nifty of receiving an adequate education
/ to fill them with efficiency. Mr. Healy
was interrupted by VIM. Johnston, of
l5allykilbeg, the grand master of Ulster
| Orangeism. who said that the principles
of the Orange order forbid prosecution
Of individuals on the ground of religious
differences. This statement was greeted
with Nationalist laughter. Mr.. Heals
replied: 81 am quite satisfied that words
to that effect will be found in the books
Of that institution. But what is persccu-
tion? Is 1t not persecution for me that
can find no place in Ireland to which
can, with satisfaction to my conscience
as Catholic, send my children to uni
vcrsity? Is that not persecution? Why
are my children to be brought up in ig-
nOrance SO far as university training
goes? Am to join the Professionals?
(Cheers.) Nothing is more simple.
Have no regard to the conscience of the
Irish Catholics. Treat them as a nulity
when you are dealing with them, and
then. OF course, every other position logi-
cally follows. For why don't you treat
the French Catholics in Canada In the
same way? Why are not the principles
of the Orange Order rampant In the Uni
versity Of Laval? l think the state is
entitled to see that tho Catholic has
Waite for his money. that in all matters
OF secular learning the money OF the
citizens and taxpayers shall not be
thrown away.
In this matter Ireland's right Is no
mans wrong. We don't seek to deprive
Trinity College Of one acre of It's lands
or one shilling of its revenue. We are
willing that the Presbyterians of Bel
fast, II they desire it, should have the
Queens College in Belfast erected into
Il university. Shall l be told that when
the Catholics make Il demand for univer-
sity training in accordance with the prin-
ciples of their church that they are
alone to be denied n reasonable Salts
faction of their views"
w. L. ii. l.ecky, the historian, and
Arthur Balfour spoke after Mr.. Hcaly.
In the course of bis speech, Mr.. Balfour
used the following remarkable words:
He could not solve the question un-
less he had behind him the party tn
which he belonged. but what a condemn
alton to that party it was that they could
not meet the question. Opposition
chcers.) He earnestly pressed his hon
orable friends on the government side
of the house to do their best to settle
once and for all the solitary grievance of
its particular nature which remained to
the Irish people. and to bring to an end
controversy which was the more bitter
to themselves, because he was convinced
that in their hearts they had no an
swcr to the arguments brought forward
from the other side of the house."
(Cheers.)
John Morley participated in the debate
and among other things said that in the
highest interests of Ireland the esta5-
llshment Of Il university was not only
justified, but requisite. Continuing he
said:
'Thc chief secretary had said and his
own experience bore 1t out, that it was
impossible to award a due share Of the
positions In the Irish government to Ro-
man Catholics, for the simple reason that
they We're not up to the necessary stand
ard of education, and had not Fair
chance Of acquiring higher education. !"
Addressing the ministerial side OF the
house he said If they did not provide a
settlement of this problem they were
multiplying all the professions in which
they went to the country at the last gen.
era1 election which vas FOUGHT he