The Irish standard., 1909-02-27
Recent Convention in Dublin by Show of Hands of Three
to One Favors the Compulsory Study of the
Mother Tongue.
HYDE EvOKES TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM
John Dillon Opposes P. Bolands Resolution Make the
Language Test at Entrance and Elcits
Cries of Shame.

ward the Irish University question in
and out of parliament. on the plea
that il was merely Il rich mans ques.
tion, but the newspaper controversy
to which he had referred, and the
resolutions Of the local bodies, showed
that the University question was .
popular question. We had now got
our University. and it was something
to be thankful for to have University
to fight over IT. should not be forgot.
ten that the Irish peoples ideas in re.
gard to the University, whatever they
might be, would prevail. and should
prevail. This sentiment was loudly
applauded by the delegates. Mr.. Dill
Ion claimed credit for the Irish Party
for keeping the University question
to the front when people who were
now interested in it. were Indifferent.
He referred to a recent PROPOSAL on
the part Of some of these persons To
collect million of money and 10 es-
tablish University Of their own.% Mp.s
Dillon described this establishments as
tin shed university. Not a sixpence
Of the million pounds. he said. So far
as he knew. had ever been paid up. The
tin shed university had not yet been
established. at would have been bet
ter" said "a voice." why" asked
Mr.. Dillon, wasn't it done? ?"' And the
answer of the Voice." which was fol-
lowed by laughter was--'Tt will be-"
Mr.. Dillon went on to say that the
vast majority of the senate of the new
University were as good friends Of the
Gaelic movement as any man In the
ROOM Here there were cries Of "Ques.
tion, question:" to which Mr.. Dillon
replied that what he said was his Arm
conviction. He then dwelt on the at
tacks that had been made on DR.. De-
lany, of University College. He had
differed with DR.. Delaney on many
questions, including educational ques-
tions, but these attacks were cruel
injustice to q man who had done great
work for Ireland. He pleaded for calm
discussion of the whole question. and
incidentally remarked. in this connec-
tion, that It should not, be forgotten
that DR.. Hyde and Mr.. John Mac.
Neill, and even the Most Rev. DR..
Walsh, the Chancellor of the new
University, we're nominees of the
British Government.
Mr.. Dillon went on to discuss soma
of the proposals Of the supporters Of
compulsory Irish in case 1t was not
adopted. One said. Boycott it" an
other said, Burn it. down." Here a
delegate said Fright" But, answered
Mr.. Dillon, you must wait to get 1t
before you blow 1t to fragments. Why.
he asked. was not the Royal Univer-
sity boycotted or burned down? Be-
cause, said "A Voice." it was Royal"
and not Irish. "And, therefore," an
swered Mr.. Dillon, with not little
heat, "You tolerated It," He went on
to say that during all this time the
present.day critics were asleep-"Who
woke you up?" This is the FIRST time
since the Conquest, he went on to say,
that the British Government had met
ireland fairly. A false issue was being
put before the people by the advo-
Gates of compulsion. 1t was not a case
of Ireland against West Britain. Ev-
eryone, including the members of the
senate, was agreed that Irish should
hold the place of honor in the Univer.
sity. Would compulsory Irish alone
make the University an Irish Univer-
sity? Did compulsory Greek make .
University a Greek University? Did
compulsory Latin make Uniyersity,a
Latin University? Compulsion in the
case Of Irish involved the belief that
the subject would not be taken unless )
students were compelled to take 1t.
Take care, he added lmpressively,
that compulsion may not kill the en-
thusiasm of the Gaelic League. Mr..
Dillon finished by expressing hope
. 4 - ~. ! sr.sIS !. s.