Mr. Balfour has written two letters on the question of
Irish University Education. In the first, addressed to Mr. C. H. Firth, he points out the absurdity of the Gladstonians com- plaining of Rome-rule being established by aid given to higher education for Irish Roman Catholics, and yet advocating a measure which would endow the Roman Catholics of Ireland not only with the power of promoting similar objects, but of employing public funds for "deliberately propagating Roman Catholic opinion among those who do not belong to that com- munion." In the second letter, addressed to the Rev. James Kerr, the secretary of the Scotch Protestant Alliance, Mr. Balfour, after quoting his correspondent's question as to whether the Government are favourable to the creation of an Irish Catholic University out of national funds, says :—"I have to say, in answer, that though I desire to take steps to. promote the higher University education of the Roman Catholic population, the foundation and endowment of a University for that purpose, so far as I am concerned, has never been in contemplation, and is not, in my opinion, necessary." We presume from this that the plan favoured by the Government is the grant, in some shape or other, of a certain annual sum to the already existing but voluntary " Catholic University." After all, the form does not greatly matter. The principle which has been yielded is the essential thing. The Government will henceforth assist University education for Irish Roman Catholics, not in the manner which seems best to Englishmen, but in that considered best by the majority in Ireland.
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