THE IRISH UNIVERSITY QUESTION.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPROTATOR.1
SIR,—In justice to myself I would ask you to allow me to defend myself from the imputation of such fatal ignorance contained in your editorial comments on my last letter. Whatev er construc- tion may be put upon my language, I was under no " misconcep- tion " as to the functions of the London University. True, that University merely tests knowledge ; but she, at least, selects the curriculum, and all I sought to establish was, that as the character of the curriculum must depend upon the character of the body that selects it, so "an University of the London type as a success- in this country would be impossible." This must remain my conviction, notwithstanding the article on the "Queen's Univer- aity in Ireland," in the Spectator of October 19.
For "an Irish University Senate, consisting half of Roman
Catholic men of learning, and half of Protestant men of learning, would" not command the confidence of the whole country," for the simple reason that the Roman Catholic half would never con- sent to such a course, say in ethics or literature, as would be- insisted upon by the Protestant half. In a word, the mixed, Senate could never agree upon a curriculum. Surely this must be beyond all question ! If the same conditions held in the London. University, the result would be identical ; but as they do not, it is. hardly fair to cite it as the proof of an opposite conclusion.
I cannot of course complain that you do not accept my state-
ments as facts as regarQs the "set purpose" of the Roman Catho- lics. I will, however, ask you to acquit me of presumption when I say I am confident I have expressed their wants. To vary some- what the proposition I stated in my last letter, I believe if the Ultramontanes had to choose between a Catholic University with a Government charter, but not endowed by the State, and any possible endowed alternative which would involve an intercourse- in a greater or leaser degree with the Protestants, they would unhesitatingly accept the former.
The solution, then, that would give a charter to the Catholic- University and open Trinity College would, I firmly believe, be the most acceptable to the whole body (save a few daring excep- tions) of Roman Catholics and all Liberal Protestants. It would not please the English Dissenters, and I regret that it does not find favour with the Spectator ; but, granted the truth of what I have said, this is surely a case where Mr. Gladstone may govern Ireland "according to Irish ideas." This solution would involve, too, as a necessary and not-to-be-regretted corollary, the suppres- sion of the Queen's University, for three degree-giving bodies in, this country would, I grant, be a great evil.
In conclusion, I would wish to guard myself against being mis- understood when I spoke of permitting Trinity College to reform herself as she has proposed to do-through Mr. Fawcett. I referred simply to the main feature of his measure,—the complete opening of the University. I am aware that the details are most insufficient, but are capable of being rendered satisfactory.-1 am, Sir, &c., R. W. A. HOLMES. 24 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, October 21.
Previous page
