The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-17 00:00:00

THE EDUCATION BILL.

Mr. GLADSTONE at some length explained the leading
principles of the bill. In the course of his remarks he
said the leading consideration which governed the
Administration in the preparation and introduction of
the measure, was that they had now arrived at a
time when religions differences ought no longer to stand
in the way of conferring upon the nation a great
and essential public good. It was, therefore, the desire of
the Government to present a measure which would aim at
making elementary education universal, and universal in
an efficacious form throughout the country. It was, in
their view, essential to the success of the measure,
and so far as the funds of the. State were con-
cerned, they should be applied only " for secular results."
The machinery of voluntary schools they found not only
existed in the country, but having overspread tLe country
to an immense extent, and upon every ground, whether
if what was due to the promoters of these schools, to
their benevolent and self-denying labours, and
.of the success they had obtained, or whether, on
the ground of what was due to the purpose
which Government had in view to its effectual, speedy,
uniform, and economical attainment ; they adopted this
principle also as a fundamental principle of the bill, that
they would not shrink from, and without jealousy
endeavour to employ the machinery of voluntary
schools so far as it was available in aid of their
purpose. But, anticipating that the large deficiency
which was now observable in the country,
could not be made up by voluntary schools alone, they
proposed to fall back upon the principle of rating, and
Use by way of supplement to the voluntary schools, under
the authority of local boards. These boards were to be
appointed by a free and popular election, and they were
to be in a substantial and genuine sense the representatives
of the parents of the children.— Mr. Gladstone then
noticed the objections which had been urged against the
bill. He then stated the nature of the changes the
Government proposed to make in the bill. They pro-
posed to accept the proposition of the hon. gentleman
the member for South Hampshire, with regard to rate-
founded schools. They also proposed that the time-table
conscience clause should cover all schools whatever receiv-
ing any description of aid, whether from the rates or from
the Privy Council. They proposed that the local boards
should cease to have any connection or relation with the
voluntary schools ; and that these schools, so far
as they depended on public aid, should only
stand in relation to the Privy Council. They proposed the
contribution of the Privy Council towards the annual
charge of the schools should be augmented in such a
manner as to afford increased support to local schools, whe-
ther voluntary or rate aided,but that the increased amount
of support would vary in its details. An augmentation of
50 per cent. would be perfectly fair, and they would ex-
pect the promoters of voluntary schools to supply the re-
mainder of what was requisite from their own resources,
together with the pence of the school children.
Mr. DISRAELI said that if they were to have a religious
education he was at a loss to understand how it was to be
secured if the changes which the right hon. gentleman had
notified were adopted by the House. Their course was
clear in his opinion. The country demanded a national
education, which should be religious. The country
would not entrust the education to the Church,
and it was agreed to entrust it to the
community. The right hon. gentleman, acting
upon that principle, had proposed to them that the com-
munity should be relegated the power to decide upon re-
ligious educations but they were told that night that the
powers of the school boards were not only to be abridged,
but to be abrogated. It was proposed that they were to
take refuge in an amendment of which notice had been
given by a private member, but which, according to the
forms of the House, could not be moved. The right hon.
gentleman declared that the bill was altogether a new one;
he urged Mr. Gladstone to move that the bill be com-
mitted pro forme/ and the new clauses inserted, so that
the House might have an opportunity of considering the
new proposition.
Mr. VERNON HARCOURT said that he was utterly un-
able to master the new scheme of the Prime Minister,
and he hoped both sides of the House would concur in
the appeal of the right hon. gentleman who had just sat
down that they might have time to consider what
had very properly been called a new bill. The
amendment of the member for Hampshire, whilst
it pretended to do a great deal, did nothing. It proposed
that "no catechism or religions formulary which is
destinctive of any particular denomination shall be
taught." This, he contended, was very vague, and
although the catechism or any formulary might be for-
bidden, yet it was easy to teach the contents of the same.
He moved the adjournment of the debate.
Mr. DIXON seconded the motion.

Viscount SANDON thought it better to go into com-
mittee pro forma, although it was undeniable that the
measure was a new bill. At the same time he did not
think any time should be lost in considering such an im-
portant measure.
Mr. CowrEu-TEuPLEthought it would be the best course
to commit the bill pro forma, and then give the House
time to consider the new proposals.
Mr. G. HARDY agreed that that course was the most
advisable.
Mr. FOWLER thought hon. members had a perfect right
to ask for time to consider the new proposal, and he
did not deny that the changes were limportant, although
he thought the right hon. member for Buckinghamshire
had ratheriexaggerated them. The Government would
suggest that the debate should not be proceeded with until
next Monday, and they would not attempt to ask the
House to allow the Speaker to leave the chair in order that
the bill be committed.
Mr. HARCOURT withdrew his amendment.
Mr. LIDDELL and Sir JOHN PAKINGTON having briefly
addressed the House,
Mr. GLADSTONE said the Government had not the
slightest objection to the bill be committed pro formd,
The House then accordingly went into committee pro
form.

THE EXTRADITION BILL.
On the House resuming,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of
the Extradition Bill, and in doing so spoke of the undeni-
able advantages of extradition. France, he said, had
53 treaties of extradition with different countries. The
United States had nearly as many, most of the conti-
nental nations had a great number, but England had only
three. This no doubt arose in a great measure from a
feeling of jealousy lest we should be called upon to sur-
render persons accused of political offences. The bill was
a general Act, enabling her Majesty, after making
arrangements with any foreign state in pursuance of the
Act, to direct by order of Council that the
Act shall apply to the extradition of criminals
between this country and such foreign state. The bill
was no doubt drawn up upon the footing of what was
called necessity, that was to say that if a foreign country
would not surrender our criminals we were not to surrender
theirs, but in his opinion it was doubtful whether it was
altogether desirable to insist upon the principle of le-
ciprocity. His idea was that to get rid of a foreign crimi-
nal was an absolute benefit. The Attorney-General
explained that the Act applied to the colonies, unless ex-
cepted by an Order in Council. He also explained the
main provisions of the bill, and said there was one clause
which provided that persons should not be amenable for
political offences.
Mr. BOUVERIE said the bill would put them on the same
footing as any other civilised nation.
After some remhrks from Mr. Dickinson,
Mr. M'CULLAGH TORRENS said the bill provided that
no person should be surrendered for apolitical offence, but
it did not define what a political offence was.
The bill was ultimately read a second time.
THE CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL.
This bill as amended was considered and agreed.
SLIGO AND CASHEL DISFRANCHISEMENT

BILL.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL for IRELAND moved the second
reading of this bill.
Colonel FRENCH moved that inasmuch as the evidence
taken before the Royal Commission established the fact
that corrupt practices did not prevail extensively at the
last election for Sligo, only 14 voters out of a constituency
of 520 having been found guilty of such practices, the
report of the Commissioners was not justified, and under
the circumstances the House considered the disfranchise-
ment of the borough should not take place.
After a discussion the House divided.
The second reading was agreed to by 158 to 23.
STAMP DUTY ON LEASES BILL.

This bill as amended was eed to.
PROTECTION OF INVENTIONS BILL.

This bill was read a third time.
Sir ROUNDELL PALMER obtained leave to bring in a bill
to amend the law as to the investment on real securities
of trust funds held for public and charitable purposes.
The hon. gentleman also obtained leave to bring in a bill
for the better appointment of rents and other periodical
payments.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE obtained leave to bring, in a bill to
amend the law relating to certain processions in Ireland.
Mr. MORLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend
the law relating to absconding debtors.
The [louse adjourned at twenty minutes to one until
two o'clock on Friday.