The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-05 00:00:00

whole. But then they are a very important fraction, im-
portant in the influence which they exercise, if not in their
numbers. What wo have to do is to see that mon of that
type, in the less wealthy class, have a fair chance of develop-
ing such faculties as they may possess. Our business is to
find the tools, let those who can and will use them ; and that
there will be, that there aro many such Ido not doubt. Tho
people of Manchester know what they are about too well to
go on year after year spending money on a thing which
gives them no practical return. It is often said, " Look at
the very ablest and cleverest of your self-raised men, mon
that have had little or no instruction ; very often they know
next to nothing outside their own particular business."
That may be true enough, Mechanical genius, or a turn for
commercial enterprise, like any other gift, is born in a man.
That is to say, we do not know how or whence it comes;
but we do know this, that those who have the most of it,
those who owed their success entirely to themselves, aro
the very men who are keenest in the desire that those who
came after them should have better opportunities than
they had. (Hear, hear.) Look at George Stephenson
No man probably better understood the ideas or the wants
of the class from which he sprung; and no man more
warmly interested himself in instructions of this kind, as
the people of the northern districts well know. His son,
Robert Stephenson, was a man of the same stamp ; and
in that, as in other matters, he_ followed in his father's
footsteps, and I think I am not wrong in saying, unless
my memory fails me, that by his will he largely and
liberally endowed an institution of this kind in his native
town.—(Applause.) On that point I should like to call some
other eminent witnesses to the truth of what I am saying.
Such witnesses would not be wanting, for the name of your
late respected president, the name of Fairbairn— (applause)
—will, I believe, be remembered along with that of the two
Stephensons. But he is happily present, and I shall allow
him to speak for himself. (Applause.) I think that support
which such men give to the work we have in hand is a far
stronger argument in its favour than if it were left to the
interested assistance of parties or sects, to the patronage of
politicians canvassing for popularity, or even to the not
illiberal ostentation of millionaires desiring credit for the
use they make of their wealth. There is one point in con-
nection with this undertaking which it is always well to no-
tice, I mean your independence of all State aid and of all
State control. (Applause.) I dwell on that because I fear
that in other besides educational matters there is some de-
crease in that wholesome jealousy with which the middle
classes of England have always been in the hab t of looking
on any attempt of the executive to extend its functions. I
say nothing against the help given to primary instruction,
or, in plain English, to boys' and girls' schools, I believe
that is necessary. The last generation had, and the pre-
sent generation still has, to make up long arrears created by
centuries of neglect. In such a case, private moans would
be utterly inadequate ; and seeing a great work before it
which must be done, and seeing only one means of doing it,
the community had practically no option, But I hold that
where the necessity ends, there the interference should end
also. No doubt it is a pleasant thing for promoters of useful
schemes to be able to draw on the Treasury; but if that
system is carried far, the country loses in many ways.
There is first the loss of self•reliance. It is like learn-
ing to swim with corks, very easy and very pleasant,
but you never make a good swimmer in that
way. (Laughter.) There is another evil. Whore you have
official interference, there is naturally an attempt on the part
of those who exercise it to establish uniformity, to have one
plan and ene pattern for everybody, and that, I believe, in
dealing with men and women, is about the biggest mistake
that can be made. There is the political risk also, on which,
speaking here, I shall touch very lightly, that you give to
the accidental and temporary possessors of political power
an authority over local and personal matters to which they
have no claim, and which they are better for not having.
Lastly, you don't want suei help, or you ought not to want
it. Freedom, security, industry, will always create large
fortunes. Public opinion demands of the owners of wealth
that they shall use it liberally for the general good; and
many a man (most men), it I may trust my own experience,
would rather give £5O freely, with that reward which they
naturally expect from the gratitude of their fellow-citizens,
than have £5 screwed out o: them by taxes. (Applause.) I
say, therefore, in that respect remain as you are. I don't
object to those Government prizes, insignificant as they are
in pecuniary value, though believe if they were done away
you would have as much er more contributed by private
agency. But I should be sorry to see a system of grants and
subsidies applied to adult education, however plausibly such
a system might be defendel, Even as regards optional in-
spection, which some peoile propose (though I don't say
there is much harm, in it), what can it do fur you more
than is done already by these various cxaminatious—those
of the society of Arts, ant those set on foot by the uni-
versities, both new undertakings, and neither costing a
shilling to the public ? State help has done nothing fur
English manufactures--English farmers are not trained in
Government schools—nor have our great engineers come
out of Government workshops. (Hoar, hoar, and laugh-
ter.) Yet our manufactures travel to every corner of
the earth, our engineers are employed in every country,
and our farming, imperfect though it may be, is probably
the highest in Europa. (Hear, hear.) Coming back 'to
educational matters, though I respect and admire, as
everyone does, the great endowed schools and universities
for the wealthier classes, thcugh I should be exceedingly
sorry if any harm befell theta, yet I suspect that if none of
those venerable institutions existed English gentlemen
would still contrive to provide for themselves nearly as good
an education as 1 hey have now. (Applause.) Why ? Because
they kn w the value of it, ant are ready to pay for it; and
where the demand is, the eup?ly will follow. And when the
same feeling becomes general among the working classes,
especially among that highly-paid class of skilled mechanics
and artisans who are really (comparing their wants with
their earnings) as well off as any people in the world, the
same result will follow. I say this, keep your independence,
keep your self-reliance, and never fear but you will continue
to do well. (Applause.) The work on ei hieh you are en-
gaged is only a part, it may be but a small part, of a great
national movement. The school, the institute, the cheap
newspaper, the cheap book, go together with the benefit
society, the savings bank, the freehold cottage, the co-ope-
rative mill, and better still, the co .operative store. (Ap-
plause.) The' object of all these is one—to lighten the
heavy and threefold burden of ignorance, poverty and labour.
Failure there may be. Mistakes there occasionally will be.
There will be long delay and temporary falling back. But
that that end will in some, and that not an inconsiderable
degree be attained, is not only the earnest hope but also the
confident expectation of those to whose thoughts the welfare
and greatness of England are most constantly present. The
hon. gentleman resumed his seat amid great applause.