Mr. Bryce at the end of the debate declared that
the system of University education in Ireland was generally admitted to be unsatisfactory, but he was not at present in a position to make any statement as to the intentions of the Government. He hoped, however, that it might be possible to reconcile the conflicting views which had delayed the settlement. We trust most sincerely that this means that the Government propose to take the matter up. If they do, we implore them to approach it in no narrow and no timid spirit, and not to strive to give to the Roman Catholics of Ireland the very least that they can be induced to accept. What is wanted is a settlement that the Roman Catholic hierarchy will regard not merely as just possible to accept, but as ample and generous. We would see established a Roman Catholic University of which they can feel as proud as the Protestants of Ireland are proud of Trinity College. The want of sym- metrical fairness involved in the fact that Trinity College is not in essentials a Protestant institution need not disturb us. It is of the nature of modern Protestantism to be tolerant and wide-minded. That is a fact in which Protestants may justly glory, but it is not a ground for attempting to force upon Roman Catholics a form of toleration with which, for good or evil, they do not, and cannot, sympathise.
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