The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-29

most bitterness and alarm by the terri
torial arlstocracy; nevertheless, 1t was
sanctioned by the House OF Lords. Hav-
ing swallowed a camel, 1t was scarcely ex-
pected that the Unionist Government
would strain at a gnat and shrink from
making an annual allotment Of the few
hundred thousand dollars needed to main
tain Catholic university in Ireland. The
demand for such an institution has been
pressed since 1873, and the reasonableness
OF II has been since emphasized by the fact
that Parliament has recognized the denom-
national principle in the primary and
secondary systems OF national education.
Then, again, to what are known as the
industrial and reformatory schools Of Ire
land about half million dollars n year are
devoted. without any OF the restrictions
imposed in the so-called conscience clause
OF the acts regulating primary and Sec
ondary schools. The instruction given In
the Irish industrial and reformatory schools
Is Roman Catholic denominational educa-
tlon, pure and simple Nevertheless, neither
Anglicans nor Nonconformists in that
country have ever raised a word OF protest
against It, Neither has any cutlery been
excited by the circumstance that, OF the
funds allotted to the so-called Royal Univer-
sity in Ireland, a good many thousands OF
pounds go undisgusedly to the support Of
the Roman Catholic college in st. Stephens
Green. In this Royal University, by the
way which, like the London University, Is
mere examining board the Catholics arc
represented in the governing body in the
proportion OF is to 10. In view OF tho
facts here recited it seems impossible to
attribute to anything but sectarian preiu-
dice the refusal to crown the Irish edu-
cational system by founding university
which shall do for Irish Catholics what
Trinity College, Dublin, does for their
Protestant fellow countrymen. The vehe-
mcnt opposition OF ultra-Protestants to
the creation OF such an institution seems
the more irrational because Mr.. BALFoUR,
when outlining the scheme OF Catholic
university proposed to exclude from any
share OF the public grant the professor
ships OF theology, philosophy and modern
history, which we're to be supported exclu-
sively by private contributions.
The truth is that the opposition to the
project is less than five months old, and is
maniiestly, as we have said, an outgrowth
Of the anti-ritualstic movement. Last
January, Mr.. BALFoUR, In a letter to one Of
his constituents expressed the conviction
that an Irish Catholic university would be
founded in the near future, and he said not
a word about disagreement OF the Cabi-
net on the question. The announcement
was received by the newspapers with close
approach to unanimity OF approval, even
the London Times intimating that, II the
conditions laid down by Mr. BALFoUR were
accepted by the Roman Catholics, the time
for making the grant had come. Mean
while, however the agitation against ritu-
alism in the Church OF England had gained
force, and. on March d. a statement APP
peared in the Standard, that while the sup
port of leading men on both sides might
have been secured for Mr.. BALFoUR's
scheme it would be impossible to gain for
it the votes of the rank and file of either
of the great parties. This statement
was followed, on March 10, by speech
OF the Duke OF Devonshire, in which he
said that he should be extremely sur
prised II, during the existence Of the pres
ent Government, any practical measure
dealing with this subject were brought for
ward" He added, with but scant exhibit
ton OF courtesy toward his colleague, that
he had never regarded the question as
one of immediate practical Importance.
Thus, abandoned by his fellow Minister'S,
Mr.. BALFOUR was compelled to say during
the recent debates that, until a change
should take place in public opinion. the
Irish Catholic university could not be made
n Government ~ lfy.
mcnt is accepted by the London Spectator,
which has been n Jealous advocate Of the
proposed educational concession, as con-
elusive proof that the TING is no longer
proptious for 1t.