The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-20 00:00:00

JANUARY 20, 1855.

decreases ; and in the debates of the last few
sessions we are not aware that any one of
them has ventured on a downright avowal of
his heresy. A fourth section, again, which
used to contend for the exclusive right of the
Church to educate—or, in other words, which
denied to non .conformists the right of profit
ing by grants made out of the public
purse, while accepting those grants on
behalf of Churchmen—has well-nigh disap-
peared. Of the fundamental principle on
which their educational creed is based, it is
enough to affirm that the whole tendency of
modern legislation sets against it—that it was
pointedly disavowed by Parliament when the
present denominational system was set on
foot—and that it is, to say the least, unsuited
to the wants of an age and country in which
the dissenting socts collectively number
almost as many members as the Establish-
ment. Moreover, those whose views incline
them to exalt most highly the ecclesiastical
power have of late years changed their tactics.
Instead of calling on the State for help they
protest against its authority ; in lieu of
clamouring for privileges they complain of
restrictions, and demand independence. Their
claim, therefore, will not be again put forward ;
and since with voluntarism, which seems their
natural resource, they have no sympathies in
common, it is not easy to see what part they
propose to themselves to take. But when
these four classes of politicians—the volun-
tarists, the secularists, the non-educationists,
and those who would educate through the
Church exclusively—are either silenced or con-
verted, the question at issue is really brought
within very narrow limits. Reversing the
process of argument, we may assume, without
much risk of contradiction, that the four
following propositions, if submitted to the
Legislature or the public, would be affirmed by
a large majority :-
1. That it is the duty of the Government, iu
the present state of things, to assist in the
promotion of popular education.
2. That the assistance actually given is in-
sufficient, and must remain so until a more
effective machinery for the purpose is pro-
vided.

3 That religious instruction should form a
part of the teaching given, and that this in-
struction should, as far as possible, be made
common to all sects.

4. That the claims of existing schools
should be considered, and the efforts of indi-
viduals be not superseded, but encouraged.
To which propositions a fifth might proba-
bly be added, though with less certainty of
absolute unanimity, viz. :-
5. That, as each district is taxed for the
support of its own pauperism, instead of the
burden being thrown ou the national exche-
quer, so each district should be made, in part
at least, to contribute towards making good its
own educational requirements.
On these principles Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S
plan of 1853 was based. The plan itself was
much, and as we think justly, censured for
the incompleteness of its provisions, and its
manifest inadequacy to supply one at least of
the most pressing wants of the nation by the
establishment of new schools in districts
where few or none now exist. But, while
these faults caused its withdrawal, and even
drew upon the author some ridicule, the
general theory laid down by the Whig leader
differed but slightly from that which the Con-
servatives, as a body, have supported. It re-
mains to be seen whether, on such a basis of
common opinion, a really sound and perma-
nent measure can be built up. Rumours
reach us that a new education bill is contem-
plated by Ministers ; and meantime Sir Joni(
PAYINOTON, wisely incredulous of Downing-
street professions, has placed on the notice-
paper a motion of his own, which before our
next appearance will probably have been
submitted to Parliament. We do not touch
on the details of a proposition not yet made
public ; but we can affirm with some confi-
dence that, by the Conservative project, the
exertions of denominational teachers will not
be repressed, but encouraged ; full play will
be given to the principle of local self-govern-
ment; the claims of ail sects will be amply
recognised; town and country will be dealt
with alike; provision will be made for the