A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY FOR IRELAND. THE BISHOP OF WATERFORD SPEAKS FOR THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 38, 15 January 1897, Page 28

A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY FOR IRELAND. THE BISHOP OF WATERFORD SPEAKS FOR THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT.

At the annual distribution of prizes at the Mount Sion schools of the Christian Brothers Water ford. Ireland, on November T>, the Most Ilev. Dr. Kheehan, Bishop of Waterford, delivered an important speech on the occasion on the university question, but before doing so he paid a warm tribute to the Christian Brothers. He said : " From the beginning the Christian Brothers gave us reason to believe that they were determined that as far as in them lay they would not be found wanting in their share of the duty, and accordingly in every year from the beginning their names have been found occupying a place, more or less prominent, on the list. But for years, too. they were gathering their strength, and now in this year, as if with one bound, they have come almost into the forefront of all the schools in Ireland. And perhaps the best way of having an idea of their success is this — that while last year they were credited with ten distinctions of one kind or another, this year they have the immense number of thirty-one. To-day the Christian Brothers of Mount Sion stand fifth in the list of all the schools in Ireland, both Catholic and Protestant." After dilating on the work accomplished this year under the intermediate system in Ireland, the Bishop continued : •■ And this brings us to a point that is well worthy of consideration and yearly possesses larger claims on our consideration. I refer to the question of university education in this country, for I think it is perfectly true to say that never, until we. the Catholics of Ireland, who form the masses of the people, never until a university education in Ireland suitable for us has been granted, never shall we attain that position to which we are entitled by our numbers and by our intelligence. There is no need at this hour of the world's history to speak at any length of the advantages — aye, of the downright necessity in every civilised country ot a proper university system. It is under such a system that a young lad. however humble he may be in his origin and his surroundings, obtains the chance to rise to that high position in life for which God. when He gave him transcendent talents, destined him. But in Ireland, for want of a proper university system, we Catholics are kept down and we have been kept down by three centuries ot misgovernment. and at the present moment there appears to be a desire, as iar as we can gather to raise us up from the position into which this misgovernment has brought us. Headers ot Irish history in the memorable year of 1752 will not have failed to be struck with the remarkable speech on this subject which was then made in the Irish House ot Parliament by Hely-Hutchison, the provost ot Trinity College. Sixty years and more passed by from the date of Hely-Hutchison's speech before any effort was made to add to the facilities for university education in this country, and then the Government, in an evil hour for themselves, projected the design of the Queen's Colleges. The education offered by the Queen's Colleges was spurned by the country as it deserved to be. and from that day until this the names ot the Queen's Colleges are by- words of scorn. A few months ago the late Chief Secretary. Mr. Balfour. admitted the necessity, in the House of Commons, of dealing with this question ot university education in Ireland, and from that day up to the present he has apparently, as far as we know, at all events, never put hand or foot in the way of promoting any university system. Within the last twelve months the present Chief Secretary for Ireland, in words somewhat similar, admitted the Irish grievance, and he said it would be a pleasure to him if he could assist in removing it. Well, the Government should have the power to do it now. They claim to have a large majority— and I believe they have— then they are able, they say they are willing, and if they arc able and willing everyone knows what conclusion to expect. "We have two university institutions, and in these two institutions there are some 1.500 students, and ot these I. r><><) students about 100 are Catholics— one-fifteenth in a Catholic country of Catholic people, enjoying the blessings of a university system. I don't count the ltoyal University, because it lacks the highest of all the functions of a university, and besides it leaves the Catholic colleges of Ireland cramped and cribbed. In endeavouring to remove this grievance we are desirous of doing no wrong to anyone. We don't ask one penny of the endowments that any other university or university college possesses. We don't desire in the slightest degree to lessen their importance or their efficiency. His Lordship quoted the language of the resolutions passed recently by the bishops at Maynooth. asking tor equality tor Irish Catholics without seeking any of the endowments held by olher universities or impairing their efficiency, and said, it is the lanmiagc ot men who would be simply contented with what is their right and who would endeavour as far an they could to smooth the way for any government anxious to concede them these righis. I don't think that you nor the Catholics ot Ireland should rest as long as this last vestige of ascendancy remains in the land. We have a right to what we claim, and some day we will get it — the sooner the better, for we don't wish that

discontent should prevail in the country. Rather, we say that by a proper government of the country we should be taught that we are regarded in very truth as having equal rights with others, and it is therefore to be hoped that the present Government, now so strong, will redeem the pledges that they have more than once made. Then the Irish people will possess a proper university system, and when the intermediate schools of Ireland— Mount Sion and others — will have a proper outlet, their young men may go forth and obtain an education such as will fit them for the higher walks of life afterwards— an education that may honour themselves and help m their day to build up a prosperous, happy and contented Ireland.