HC Deb 11 June 1886 vol 306 cc1487-8
MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If it is a fact that, on the occasion of his recent visit to Cork, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland knelt before the altar in the Roman Catholic Cathedral; and, if so, whether such an act was in consonance with the Law which requires that the Viceroy of Ireland should be a Protestant?

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question, I should like to ask whether he is aware that the late Lord Beaconsfield, on the occasion of an interesting marriage at Kensington, attended the Roman Catholic Pro Cathedral, and was seen to kneel before the altar?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE) (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)

I am equally unable to answer the supplementary Question put by the hon. Member, although I think I have heard something to that effect; and the original Question, which I was in hopes that the hon. Member opposite, upon further consideration, would not attempt to put. My answer to the Question is that I know nothing upon the subject, and that I entirely decline to make any inquiries. As a Question of this kind seems to be put with some hope of lighting anew the fire of religious discord in Ireland, and of leaving upon the person to whom it refers some shade of suspicion, I take the liberty of saying from my own knowledge, beginning at a very early period, that as I have never known a better Christian than the present Viceroy of Ireland, so, in addition to that, I have never known a more perfect Protestant.

MR. JOHNSTON

I beg to give Notice that in consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman I shall call attention to this matter in the new Parliament, should the present Government, unfortunately, be then in power.