The Queen's University in Ireland seems to be so apprehensive
of being recast in some sense more agreeable to Roman Catholics than to Protestants, that it is driven in its excitement of mind to deal very unfairly with its own Catholic members. In a report which we take from the Freeman's Journal of Thursday week (Octo- ber 12), we find that upon a resolution moved by Dr. Cummins to the following effect, "That as it is probable that legislation upon the subject of the Irish University system will occupy the attention of Parliament in the ensuing Session, the Convocation thinks it right to declare its continued adhesion to the prin- ciple of united and non-sectarian University education in Ireland." a Roman Catholic graduate, Mr. F. H. O'Donnell, moved, as an amendment, to request Her Majesty's Government for a Commis- sion of Inquiry to investigate and report on " the so-called system of non-sectarian University education in Ireland," an amendment surely as germane to the subject as could be well imagined, Mr. O'Donnell asking leave to show a printli pole case for such inquiry and for refusing to vote for the original resolution. But instead of permitting Mr. O'Donnell to have his say out and then answering him, a scene of interruption, confusion, calls to order, and violent interjectional ejaculations ensued, which rendered it quite impossible for Mr. O'Donnell to go on. Doubtless his speech was strongly worded, and he would have been much wiser quietly to array his facts first, without anticipating his conclusions in such very unpleasant terms, and so to compel his audience, if he could, to draw his own inferences. Still, he obviously had no fair play ; he was overwhelmed by angry outcries, and was ultimately told by the President he might not speak either on behalf of his own amendment, or against the original resolution, or, as he offered to do, with true Irish gallantry, on behalf of that resolution rather than not speak, and bring out the facts with which he appeared to be labouring, at all. We will undertake to say that in the London University the most fanatical Roman Catholic would be listened to without interruption to the close of any moderately long indictment of the University's policy and administration.
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