The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

Why, that out of the sums voted for education,
37,0001., had got into the hands of the two State
ICkurches, and but one tenth into the hails
of the Dissenters, it was but fair to presume that a
similar result would take place under this new plan. The
aristocracy found that the people of this country were
degenerating, and that they would soon be reduced to a
potato dietary, and thinking that many connected with
them would be thrown upon them for support, they
wished to introduce this system of pensioning, in order
also that the people might be kept down to the
starvation po;nt.—(Cheers.) The Church wished to
keep the people in the condition they were at present.
If they did not, why did the Archbishop of Canterbury,
in 1834, oppose the educational grant ? They had
11,000 parishes and 11,000 teachers in the schools, and
now they wanted as many more masters and pensions—
each master to have five pupils and five apprentices.
They knew if one member of a family were pensioned,
that the family was secured for whatever support they
might stand in need of. And if the teachers were
kindly declared by the clergy not exactly fitted for their
vocation, they would be made excise-men and custom-
house officers.—(ob, oh.) It was by these means that
they intended for the future to work the Government of
the country ; it was an insidious attempt to obtain influ-
ence over the people, and those orthodox Dissenters who
were in favour of it, were as narrow-minded as the
priests themselves. Until they got rid of the influence
of the Church, the education of the people could not be
property accomplished.
Mr. KING considered that there was no lack of the
means of education, but that there was great unwilling-
ness on the part of the parents, wlttli very poor, to wash
and comb their children, and send them to school. The
supporters of the schools did all they could to induce the
children to attend them ; but they verified the old saying,
" that you might take a horse to the water, but that
you could not compel him to drink." Some localities
were unable to afford much for education ; but many of
them had powerful neighbours, who were willing to
afford all the aid in their power. But the Government
plan was one which was neither judicial nor just. To
call a father in want of food to send his naked, hungry
children, to school was absurd. The voluntary principle
would always command subscriptions, and sufficient
funds for education ought thus to be provided. He was
exceedingly jealous of Government interference.
Mr. LOWE said he was a Sunday-school teacher forty
years ago, and that he considered Government inter-
ference would destroy the schools supported by volun-
tary subscriptions ; they would always work better than
Government schools, and would accomplish all that was
required.
Mr. HALL was of a similar opinion. He was strongly
opposrd to state interference,and considered that the mil-
lion of money proposed to be expended might be devoted,
with far greater advantage, for the purchase of clothes
for the poor naked children, to enable them to labour,
and to pa, ld. or 2d. a-week to an evening school.
After considerable discussion with respect to an ad-
journment, the further discussion of the subject was
postponed until Thursday next.