The Irish standard., 1909-05-22

Sthorough Englishman. and regarded
with singular distaste everything cons
nected with Irish nationality. He pro-
posed to himself, as we learn from his
own writings, to develop an English
university in Ireland and to, mould the
mind of Irish youth in accordance with
English ideas.
81 may mention an incident connect
ed with the antipathy?rof this great
scholar to Irish ideals. On the occa-
sion Of his visit to the Right Hon. Will
liam Monsell, NJ. p. at Limerick he
was at first full of confidence that he
would realize his aim. of Anglicizing
Ireland, owing to the enthusiastic re-
ceptions everywhere accorded him. but
after few days. at banquet given
him in the City of Limerick, at which
there was a vast asesmblase ct laity
and clergy, he tells us that his cour-
age failed and his hopes vanished when
Z the singing of who Fears 70 Speak of
'98" was received with enthusiastic
applause by all present.
"The- second cause of Newman's
failure was the appointment Of English
professors in the Irish Catholic Uni
versity. He claimed the right of these
appointments. because it was enjoyed
by the rector of Louvain, and those
English professors. most of them con-
ed in the various branches of ltera-
ture and science. were thoroughly OPP
posed to the ideals and aspirations Of
Irish nationality
1.-THE third reason of his failure was
that Newman, with his Oxford ideas.
insisted that the rules and regulations
tain in the Catholic University of Dub
lin, too. 1t was a startling thing. es-
pecially for those who cultivated Irish
ideals. to find the ambition of the first
students from England, France, and
many parts of Ireland, who came to
study under Newman. was to get an
invitation to Dublin Castle. a dance
at a vice-regal ball was their highest
social ambition.
THE fourth cause of failure under
Newman was that, with all his literary
genius, he failed in the matter of
finance. which for young Catholic
university, depending on the generos.
ity Of the public, was of supreme i'm
portance.
practically the Irish Catholic Uni
versity failed under Newman. but it
was carried on as a. national cause by
Monsignor woodlock and his success
ors, whose sole object was to keep the
nag flying and to insist by constitution
81 means on the concession of ii Cath
Ollie university to the Irish nation. Sue
cessive governments kept dangling pro-
jects OF Catholic university before
the Catholics Of Ireland during the past,
half century. Till our own day the
only English statesman, who seemed
earnest in the matter was Mr.. Glad
stone, the best benefactor of Ireland
amongst English statesmen so far.
His scheme. however was consider
ed by the Irish bishops not to deserve
the name of a national university. but
rather an additional Queens College,
with it's center in Dublin"
What part did your Eminehce take
In, the movement"
!. MY connection with the irish uni
<ersity was very trif1ing from the out
Iet. I was one Of those appointed to
inspect the account Of the Catholic
university. and this monthly duty was
discharged so long as l remained in
Dublin. L was further appointed to
succeed the distinguished irish schol-
or. O'Curry. in the chair Of irish His
tory and Antiquities, but it was a
mere honorary position. as the classes
were at that time extinct subse-
auently. as Bishop of Ossory. 1t was
my privilege, on frequent occasions.
to be nominated with one or two 9th
-er Bishops. to wait upon the success
.sive governments to urge TIL. Justice
Of the Irish claim for a national uni
varsity, and must say, judging from
the various visits paid chiefly to the
.sSEvetary for Ireland, it was plain the
d14Gent governments were o.lv INV
ious to throw dust in the eyes of the
Irish Bishops and the Catholic peo-
pie whom they represented"