The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-24 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITIES.

The Economist compares.the chief parliamentary
majorities of the last half century. Lord Liverpool's
was as coherent and as despotic as the present, but
it was resolved to do nothing, and did nothing;
whereas the present is resolved to do a great deal,
and is doing it. Fifty years ago '1 the spirit of Lord
Sidmouth—the spirit which then and since has been
the bane of English Conservatism—the spirit of
careful formality and conscientious tiresomeness—
prevailed. The present majority is as superior to
Lord Liverpool's as an animal which can run and
desires to run is above an animal that is just able to
crawl but does not wish to crawl." Lord Grey's
majority was much too mobile. There was
no coherency ; there was a general desire to do
a great deal; but no consistency or. steadfastness
of purpose. The yoke of the constituencies was not
so heavy upon the members as it is now. It was not
true then, as it is now, that "you may entera cave,but
you will not find a seat there." Sir IL Peel's. majority
was large, but was united upon a false °Onion. "A
consciousness of the necessity of agricultural protec-
tion created it, and for a tune maintained it. But
that conviction could not stand the wear and tear of
real life. It resembled the opinions which young
men bring to London, and which London soon
takes from them. The air of Downing-street was
opposed to the Corn Laws, and belief in them soon
died out. But there is no such prejudice in the
minds of the present majority. Certainly they are
not combined on a false tradition, whatever else they
maybe. Moreover, the present majority is the only real
political force left in existence." The House of Lords
has ceased to exist as a political power, and lows
that if it enters upon a struggle with the majority,
it will have everything to lose and nothing to gain.
Another fact worth noting is the strength of *e
present Government. "No personal Governmenli,
however despotic, can compare with the presen
Ministry. The French Emperor could no more dis-
establish the Irish Church as Mr. Gladstone is doing,
than. he could destroy Protection as Sir It. Peel did.
\\' hatever else may be said against England and the
Lngl!sh Constitution, she has, and the Constitution
has given her, the strongest Government in Europe."

MR. I.IDDO'c ON DISESTABISIIMTINT.

The ablest men in the Church are now setting an
example of moderation which might be followed with
advantage by the soi-disant political friends of the
Church. Men like Bishop Greg, Mr. Charley, Sir George
Jenkinson, and the rest, might calm their perturbed
spirits if they would but hearken to the advice of
such men as Bishop Selwyn, Dr. Vaughan, of Don-
caster, and Mr. Liddon. All of these, and many
other devoted friends of the Church whom we might
mention, have spoken openly of disestablishment as
an event extremely likely, and probably close at hand,
but not 111 filly way UlacrnL.,g Mr_ Liddon
nas just been speaking at ' a meeting of
leading High Churchmen in Oxford, including
Canon Bright, Dr. Pusey, and Mr. Lowder.
He pointed out the distinction to be made between
the general principle of a union between the Church
and the State, and the particular circumstances
which attend that union at the present time in
England. He weighed the comparative advantages
and disadvantages of disestablishment, and urged,
with great force, that the duty of Churchmen, indi-
vidually and in corporate bodies such as the Church
Union, is not in any way to hasten disestablishment,
but quietly to prepare for it, so as not to be at a loss
how to act when, in the providence of God, " that
which is clearly inevitable is actually brought about.

MR. FORSTER AND TIIE UNIVERSITIEF.

Mr. Forster complained in his recent speech that
a degree could not be obtained at either of the
universities till the age of 22. What he meant is
not very clear. " A man who wants merely to
obtain the highest culture" he said "could not obtain
a degree till he was two-and-twenty." Maybe this
remark was directed against the general system of
education ; for the highest culture is not generally
attained till 22 ; but as generally accepted it has
been understood to refer to some special rule of the
universities. Even then it is not applicable ; there is
no such rule. There is nothing whatever to prevent
a man obtaining his degree at 20,0 r even at an earlier
age, if he passes the requisite examinations. It has
frequently happened that the highest honours have
been obtained by men much younger than 22. With
regard to Mr. Forster's complaint about the length
of time a man is obliged to spend at the universities,
Professor Fawcett writes that it has recently been
consid:.;rably shortened. " When I first went to
Cambridge, an under-graduate who entered in October
could not obtain his degree until the following
January three years ; now he is admitted to his
degree in the following June two years. If the time
of residence is still further shortened, one of two
things must occur—either the
.university examina-
tions must be made much less difficult, or boys must
be sent up from school better prepared than at
present."