31 MARCH 1900, Page 14

IRELAND'S NEED ENGLAND'S OPPORTUNITY. [To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "]

Six.—Just now England is ringing with the praises of Ireland's soldier sons. Had the Government sent our Irish

soldiers into the field defectively armed as compared with their English and Scotch fellow-soldiers, and had disastsr and defeat come upon them in consequence, despite their proved valour, would not the country, as one man, have cried shame,— shame upon the cruel injustice to the poor fellows themselves. and upon the grave hurt to the common weal P Now, the sons of Catholic Ireland have to go forth, year by year, to another field of struggle—the battle of Life—there to strive as beat they may for the material welfare of themselves and those dependent on them, and for the country's commonweal. To that battle the youth of Catholic Ireland are sent out defectively armed, through the denial to them of University education, and in consequence failure and disappointment wait upon the best and bravest efforts of only too many of them in the unequal struggle. This is admitted and deplored by many of our leading states. men. Now that grateful England is generously confessing her debt to well-deserving Ireland, may we not hope to see this wrong put right P Let the powers which have graciously bidden us wear the shamrock in our hats enable our young men to put University education in their heads. We ask this boon, not of this or that or the other party, but of the English people, and we plead for it by the blood of our brave, which has been poured out so ungrudgingly in their quarrel. We are told the English are jest and generous, ever lovers of fair play. We are willing to believe it, and in good hope await their answer. Let Ireland's need now be England's Rosary House, 21 Oxford Terrace, W.