DUBLIN UNIVERSITY AND THE LIBERAL PARTY.
[TO TRR EDITOR 07 Tug SPECTATOR:9
Suz,—In a note appended to Mr. Gwynn's letter last week you say :—
" We cannot agree with Mr. Gwynn that Liberal Noncon- formists, who are for the most part Home-rulers of the Gladstonian type, would refuse to give the Irish Roman Catholics the University which they desire. To accuse them, as Mr. Gwynn in effect does, of such a refusal, while at the same time demanding that the majority in Ireland shall be given the power to establish any type of University they may desire—a power which would certainly be enjoyed under Home-rule—seems to us utterly inconsistent."
Admitting, for the sake of argument, but for no other purpose, your statements, why is it inconsistent I, It is exactly the same attitude as Free-traders (including the editor of the Spectator) take up in regard to the Colonies and Protection. They are opposed to Protection, but they approve of giving the Colonies power to enforce Protective duties against the Mother-country. Is that inconsistent P I think the same issue of the Spectator contains your own reply to that question on p. 520 in a leading article in the words : "The wise Free-trader holds that freedom is greater than Free-trade." So the wise Nonconformist holds that freedom is greater than undenominational edacation.—I am, Sir, ere.,
W. M. Cffooir.
[If we held that a Colony ought to have complete self- government, including the right to establish Protection, and if we were doing all in our power to give it self-government, and further, if there were an opportunity of satisfying the Colony's desire on this point before the larger policy were can-led out, we should not think it either just or reasonable to say "We will do all in our power to prevent you having half the loaf you wish for—a loaf which we have declared it is most unjust not to give you—till we can present you with the whole." We are convinced, therefore, that it is utterly unreasonable for Liberal Home-rulers to prevent the majority in Ireland obtaining the kind of University they desire.—En. Spectator.]
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