In university education Catholic Ireland has, I have
insisted, a plain grievance ; in primary education it
has one also, if this is not equally grave and manifest.
IRISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT 385

The Catholic bishops and Catholic priesthood concur
in their claims on that subject ; it is one of the very
highest importance. No statesman worthy of the
name should hesitate ; a just demand should be at once
complied with ; one of the few remaining wrongs of
Ireland should be removed. Equity in this matter
should guide our conduct ; those who believe the Union
to be essential to the welfare of Ireland and Great
Britain alike should be careful to see that the Catholic
Irish have no legitimate cause of complaint, and
should go a long way to attract their sympathies.
And with this object it is of supreme importance to
gain the countenance of the Irish Catholic Church,
especially when it seeks what ought to be done.
