The Irish Education Commission have met, considered the re- ports
on the condition of the Callan schools and on Mr. O'Keeffe's position generally, and decided, as we expected, not to entrust him with the office of manager of those schools by a majority of 9 to 7. The parties appear to be divided much as before, except that, if the division list is correctly given in the Times, the Marquis of Kildare is now transferred to the list of Mr. O'Keeffe's supporters from that of his opponents, and if we mistake not, for the first time. The Commissioners, no doubt, could not conscientiously have decided otherwise ; but we fear the result will be, any way, an awkward one for the Irish Education system, if Mr. Bouverie leads, as he probably will lead, a powerful defection from the Liberal ranks to an attack concerted with the Tory party. Either the Government will support the Commissioners, as we hope, in which case, however, it may very possibly be defeated, and the general election confused by one of the misleading religious cries ; or it will disown them,—as Mr. Gladstone has not unfrequently shown on this question the disposition to do,—and then the Board of Education will be censured, and all the Commissioners whose administration has inspired confidence amongst the Irish Catholics will resign. The meaning of that will be the downfall of the National system and the beginning of voluntary and strictly denominational education in Ireland,—precisely what the anti-O'Keeffe party wish least, and what we confess we should regard as a grave injury to the cause of primary education there.
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