Year: 1873

|
Ireland, and formed with careful regard for
| the rights of conscience. SO far as the drsct
object of the measure was concerned it was
SOON shown that tho bill, instead of advancing
education. tehded TO degrade it by withdrawn 9
from tbe list Of studies of those most essential
! to q university training. The intention Of the
Governnrsnt in providing against the study of men
cal philosophy and modern history may have
teen gooS enough but the bill never
tneless failed in Gao OF Ks most important
features. The advancement of education was made
sub,erylent to what in reality the chief object
OF She Government tho removal of sectarian
wrongs by provisions securing seetarion representa-
ton and influence in a way which might eventually
controt the Whole university teaching OF ireland.
For this purpose the best guarantees for the freedom
OF academical education were sacrificed. The oppo-
sition of the Roman Catholic prelates showed that
tins object, too, would not be secured and 80 before
the bill was even discussed in Parliament, it was
evident that almost every advantage that the Gov
ernment expected to derive from its scheme would
be wanting, even if the bill should pass the House
of Commons.


The debate on the 3D. of March, however, showed
that the success of the bill itself doubtful The
London journals perceived the unfortunate state Of
affairs and their expression Of opinions contributed
to weaken the position Of the Ministry On tho day
after the debate The Times declared that. il Mr..
Gladstone stated all the amendments tho Govern
ment was prepared to make the bill was dead
already. The Daily Neos thought that the singular
weaknesses and defects in the structure of the bill
might be said to manifest themselves if one merely
studied the names of those who spoke against it,
without reading o word Of the arguments;
could read of the speeches without asking ham
self whether the bill did not simply attempt the
attainable; the effect of study of the debate woBd
seem to be melancholy conviction that the scheme
OF the Government would undo one thing and not
do the other The Post was dissatisfied with the
Marquis of HartingtOn's explanations. The Standard
the organ of tho Conservatives, believed that par
lamentary opinion every day more averse 60
the measure and that in particular the sacrifice of
academical learning to Roman Catholic rights Of
conscience would not receive the iassent of Psrha-
ment any more than it had won the approval of mon
of learning the support of statesmen, or the ap-
plause of the British public. The Telegraph was the
only morning journal which expressed no dissatis-
faction with the prospects of the BILL which might
be accounted for by persons tho ground that
it is popularity. known as the organ of the Ministry


In the evening The Pull Mall Gazette took its cue
from the morning papers and declared that Ii
must be clear to Mr. Gladstone that his Irish
University bill is a failure, if its aims compared
with its prospects, These adverse criticisms proved to
the Cabinet the how insecure its position. and Mr.
Gladstone in public speech showed tho perturbation
OF his mind On Wednesday. March 4. large gathering
OF members OF Parliament belonging 10 the Liberal
party. and numerous body,of gentlemen OF influence
sympathizng with tho object, assembled at the public
hall at Croydon the of banquet aud testi
mOnial TO Mr. Locke King the member OF Parliament
for East Surrey acknowledgement OF the great
vice which no had rendered to the Liberal during





made a speech in response to the toast of " Her
Majestys Mnisters" In the course OF his speech lie
made the following allusion to tho position OF the
Ministry


Our condition. doubt like that Of every other Gov
ernmen the most OF vicisstude
and it has been wont say an agreeable hut SUI it has
perhaps been notable Characteristic OF our exIstenoe
that while we have not on the whole been unprosper0us
have had greater number OF votes OF censure upon
in the House OF Commons than ever fell 10 the lot OF
any Administration In England don't mean to say
that they have been carried because afraid that II
the calamity OF success had happened In any one OF
those cases very summary end would nave Deen
put by our own hands 10 our own existence. We
middle OF an adjourned debate and that adjourned de-
bate upon vote Of censure. What 1t aboutf IL may
strange to some that all tbs row should exist upon
Irish University bill. But, somehow or other an
Irish question is very commonly found to be suitable
would appear 10 have acquired particular aptitude Tor


tho purpose arising out of the joint operation OF two
First 10 il rooted in real necessity for
legislation; and secondly. that legislation has been
pressed upon the Government for think three u not
FOUR successive years OF Its existence with such eager
and urgency that our plea that we were oterWse
engaged was rejected 50 scornfuy by some that u was
mons and what Is called stalking our existence on tne
oa % We aeo9e With il at all and presenng to the
House the Wow which most conscientously enter-
taneI In the midst of the din OF battlo am going
70 anticipate the issue We that the may
be upon the crest Of the wave one day ana IN the ough
OF It the next; but the measure which rolled on
the crest yesterday and is in the trough today may be
Tomorrow on the crest again. or 70 adopt anotner
"a


This measure which at present creates much public
interest ia one involving both multiplicity and complex
ty OF detail will only say with regard to 1t a very
few words because this is not the place for ar
gument upon it's merits demerit whatever they may
be. We cannot consent TO see the conduct
OF a great measure in Parliament taken out OF
hands, and intrusted TO some other authority
The task we have undertaken is TO remove
what We consider, and what IA admitted to be from
mouths that have admitted 1t BEFORE grievance
an academcal and educational greyance-to laige
portion OF the people OF Ireland IN removing % tnat
grievance and In seeking the object we have In VIEW we
cannot proceed any other principles thsn those 10
which we are pledged by solemn engagements 70 W tne
whole people Of this country But tins we can 90 we
can present the measure 70 h9 run anu ,Ve % d %
able amendments; We can accept con'ehte1S ratnep M
not believe to be amendments ALL long we are
permitted to carry through both Houses OF fariihnene
moyal Of grievances for the promotion OF learning aud
for the welfare OF the country. Passing rom tGiS us
more miserable conditon-nothng more contemplate
than the condition idle manso. II II were p0ssDle
tue satne WOulu be VI au
we have not been an idle Government. We have had an
active fe and that is one Of the conditions and secur
ties OF happy life. -,


You have spoken OF my position as leader OF ire LiD
eral party. feel myself unworthy OF that situation
feel that circumstances other than my own merits nave
placed me In IT, But am thankful To have been there
at period ia the history OF the country when was my
duty privilege to give the word of advance TO able
coadutors and trusty and gallant adherents ~ moro
than one. perhaps may say ln many an assault upon
citadels Of prejudice and privilege. More than once
have been permitted to see your nag tho nag
which you intrusted TO US and placed IN our
nted in
breeze on the summit OF those citadels. L am per
fectly cOntented with my part in the past ActNIty
is happiness or great constituent or happiness Dut
may say that our activity abors under one-l was gong
to say defect, but will say objection and that is
hth Tn he