New-York tribune., 1902-12-07
THE BRITISH SCHOOL PROBLEM.

The mountains were in labor and little
mouse was born" says the ancient fable. Thus
We may sum up the story Of AIr. Balfours Edu-
cation DILL For months the United Kingdom
has been in the throes Of violent agitation over
that measure. Rational men-Tational on all
other topics-have talked of outright revolution.
For a parallel we must go back to the first Re
form bill, to the Corn laws repeal and to Glad
stones Home Rule proposal Yet last week that
portentous measure was quietly passed by the
House of Commons by overwhelming ma
jority, and sent TO the House Of Lords,
where it will be similarly passed, and there
was no revolution, no cataclysm Of nature, no
interruption of the rising of the sun or of the
procession of the eauinoxes- The 'ridiculus
mus" Of the fable was not, of course, the bill,
which is a highly important one but the peter
ing OUT Of the formerly flamboyant opposition
10 it. One would have thought, from the ex-
cited agitation of little while ago. that the
final passage in the Commons would have been
marked with some historic scene. and that
every Opposition peer would have been in his
place 10 meet with eyecrations its first appear
ance in the Lords. But it seems TO have been
passed in the Commons as placidly as motion
TO take recess for dinner. and ii was greeted
IL the Lords by an attendance of only three
peers.
This is beyond doubt a splendid personal tri-
umph for Mr.. Balfour. 1t is not long since peo-
pie were saying the bill might be defeated in
the Commons and he in consequence be COM
PEELED 10 resign the Prime Ministership. A two
thirds majority for his bill in the Commons is
the answer to such forebodings. 1t really does
not seem possible. considering the character of
the Eouse of Commons-which is far more
elastic and Independent and perhaps more di-
recfly representative than orr House of Repre-
sentatives-that such result could be attained
with a measure obnoxious TO the majority OF
the British people. II is impossible to believe
otherwise than that Mr. Balfours bill is accept
able 10 the British people. or at any rate that
they are inclined TO give il fair trial In spirit
OF hopeful expectation That is not to say that
the measure is perfect 1t has faults undoubt-
edly. Its author admits the fact. But they
faults inevitably imposed by circumstances
which cannot now be changed The strong nroh-
ability is that on the whole the bill win prove
beneficial. II seems certain that II will make
far easier the next step which shall be taken
IN educational progress 1t may fittingly be
again recalled that Eorsters great School bill
of generation ago was just as bitterly de-
nounced as this one has been by the very sa me
elements Of the community. and that Forster-of
all men in the world,-was personally reviled
for being q clerical tool" and "a Jesuit In dis
guise.'' With such an example in the recent
past Mr.. Balfour may well summon his philos
ophy to his aid sereney disregardng the
shrili attacks that have been made upon him.
The fact should be fully appreciated In Eng
land. IL it is not here, that the root of the
trouble in the English educational world is O,
ancient standing. It is found in the connection
between church and state which has existed
ever since England was a kingdom Unde