Note 50 — Chapter XVIII · GOVERNMENT UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

What their motive was for this act has not yet been clearly stated. It was said at the time that they thought by opposing it to induce the Protestants to let it pass. Their opposition, however, as explained by themselves, was (1), The Bill did not endow a Catholic University. The Tories had promised to do so in 1866, and therefore the Catholics might profitably wait till Mr. Disraeli returned to power. (2), The Bill, by endowing Professorships of academical subjects—not including History and Philosophy—was really one for founding a new “Godless college.” (3), Other students than those trained in affiliated colleges—scholars educated by private study, in fact—were admitted to degrees. (4), As the constitution of the new University stood, the Catholics would have to wait for many years ere they could command even a large minority in the new University constituency.