The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-15 00:00:00

tributions to the board,indicitine considerable apathy
towards its object." In • word, Sunday schools are
almost all that can be hoped from these large numbers r
which constitute the main body of dissent., many of
whom were, we are sorry to see, in favour of the
voluntary principle in education, from the conviction
that education is hostile to them, that ignorance is a
safeguard, and consequently that voluntaryism must
be supported, as the next best synonyms to ignorance.
Cardinal WISEMAN himself could propound no
motives more worthy than these of the cleicer and
the dark ages.
There cur be very few men amon:st the dissenters
or voluntaries, who would not at once reject such cot.-
cituiono, such motives, or such principles as these.
They have bat to be stated in order to be scouted.
But they prevail and influence, by being muttered,
and hinted, and half felt, and still more from lading
acted upon without being examined or clor•ely looked
at. Now is the time, however, for all men to consider
how they may affect and promote the great cause of
popular education, for stay it or prevent it, or confine
it to individual efforts, they no longs r can. The
liberal men of Lancashire have come forward,
and united, and discussed, and put together
the machinery of one of their powerful asseciations.
Deep eine g to reconcile contending sect s in any religious
scheme, tney propounded a Our of complete unfree-
Whin education. Subscriptions and arthesion have
poured in neon them. And now in the eleventh hour
when the movement threatens to become a national
one, some churchmen awaken and propour d, we
will not say, • rival plan, but a compromise be-
tween churchmen and non-churchmen.
Of this scheme, coming from an influential quar-
ter, we have spoken in terms of approbation. And
indeed applied to such a town as Manchester,
it is the readiest way of filling up deficiencies
without waiting, as we might long wait, for a new
educational structure. The bases of the scheme
which we have already enumerated are popular and
excellent, approachirg nearly to the Lancashire and
American plan; ncr can we acknowledge the probe-
bail of any of the dire results which the Manchester
Examiner dreads and foreshadows. At all events,
there is central ground for discussion, negotiation,
consideration ; and we trust that the secalirs will cot
reject so liberal an advance.
The more conservative fraction of the Manchester

citizeLoWilied coming forward with that gt se cons
rivalry which we have described as es d.sirable.
The scheme of the public library for the working
classes of Manchester is a noble one, even if some of
the funds, taken from the poor rate-, have not been
acquired in the most constitutional or legal manner.
With this library proji et has been coupled the educa-
tional one; and the Bishop of MANCHESTER, who at
first held aloof from the latter, gave his adhesion and
advice when speaking at the library meeting. It is
plain, indeed, from the words of the bishop, as well
as from the letter of Sir KAYE SILUTTLEWOETII,
which we published, that both the government and
liberal churchmen are ready to favour a compromise,
which may lead to some enlarged system of national
education.
No party feeling, we feel certain, will prevent the
liberals of Manchester from giving their beet and
most generous consideration to this scheme.