FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Irish Timeswas not amused by a student protest which prevented the playing of God Save the King and tried to sing God Save Ireland instead at a conferring ceremony of the Royal University in Dublin, precursor of the NUI. - JOE JOYCE
THERE WAS a silly and discreditable scene at the Royal University yesterday when a section of the students, or of persons representing themselves to be students, invaded the organ platform and prevented the performance of the National Anthem, with which the proceedings were to have concluded. For some occult reason undergraduates all the world over deem it necessary to make noisy demonstrations at the ceremony of conferring degrees [...] At any rate, University authorities usually make no attempt to check these displays of youthful exuberance, provided that they do not too glaringly overstep the bounds of good taste and good order. We cannot help thinking, however, that the authorities of the Royal University showed themselves a little wanting in firmness when they allowed the turbulent elements in yesterday’s gathering to prevent the completion of the official programme. At a comparatively early stage in the proceedings the nature of the plot seems to have been manifest; and it should surely have been possible by judicious precautions to checkmate the plotters [...] Be that as it may, the thing which strikes us most in regard to the behaviour of the malcontents was not so much its audacity as its extraordinary ineptitude and want of logic. There they were assembled in a “Royal” University, from which they hope in due course to obtain their degrees, when they will proudly write the letters “R.U.I.” after their names. Yet, though they are ready in this way to indicate their appreciation of the advantages of Royal patronage, they are unwilling to show the common courtesy of listening in silence when “God Save the King” is played. We shall be told, doubtless, that the National Anthem is in Ireland “a party tune” and that no self-respecting Nationalist can countenance it. That is ridiculous nonsense. Even if it were true in the last reign , it has certainly ceased to be true since Edward the Seventh came to the throne. During His Majesty’s two visits to Ireland he was heartily acclaimed wherever he went by Nationalists quite as ardent and self-respecting as the young gentlemen who made such an exhibition of themselves at the Royal University yesterday. “God Save the King” is sung to-day in compliment to King Edward as a man, and in no way implies, if it ever did imply, approval of the particular policy in regard to Ireland which His Majesty’s Ministers for the time being may happen to favour. Those Nationalists who believe that some time or other His Majesty will be called upon to give the Royal Assent to a Home Rule Bill must be greatly disgusted and annoyed at the singularly inopportune time selected by the students for their exhibition of discourtesy.
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