Mr. Balfour's speech on Tuesday to a deputation from the
Manchester branch of the National Protestant League was in his very best manner. He exposed the monstrous absurdity of saying that Roman Catholics are bigots because they refuse to send their sons to Trinity College. The present writer does not imagine himself to be a specially bigoted Protestant, but nothing would induce him to run I the risk of sending his son to any College whose atmo- sphere was as Roman Catholic as that of Trinity College is Protestant ; and most Protestants would, we believe, say the same. As to the position inside the party created by his letter Mr. Balfour spoke with great frank- ness. The party was in no sense committed to the views he held. No party Whip over has been or ever could be used in the furtherance of these opinions. "I fail to see how the party are implicated. So far as I am concerned I say that it is a matter of indifference to me whether I remain in public life or not ; but it is not a matter of indiffer- ence to me if, in remaining in public life, I should be prevented from expressing, even against my own interests, views which I conscientiously hold." He quite recognised the duties which a party leader owed to his party, but if they involved silence on a matter "where your conscience moves you," then the position of a party leader was not one which a self-respecting, man could undertake. That is a perfectly right attitude, but we have tried to show elsewhere that it may involve most serious consequences for the Government if they do not now settle the Irish University question. Things have gone too far for "jest drifting."
Previous page
