The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-18
THE EDUCATION BILL
The Bitter Feeling In England Is Growing
Rather Than Declining.

London, Oct. 18.-That the most deter
mined measures are being made in Eng
land to defeat the Balfour education Dill
is now apparent enough. That these
measures will be successful is very doubt
full, yet as time goes by the opposition be-
comes more and more serious.
Meantime the nOnconformistS are be-
coming more hopeful and on the other
hand a notable weakening is displayed
among the churchmen, an increasing num-
Der of whom are growing fearful OF the
consequences of the bill. The more eau.
tious elements of the church party believe
that the Balfour bill can only end in the
complete secularization of all elementary
schools, both church and board They
therefore nationally propose that state
funds should be used only for secular edu-
cation and that each church should have
the privilege of instructing It's own follow
ers in religious matters during an hour
set aside for that purpose. :
OF course, reasonable and just as this
compromise would seem to be, it does not
meet the approval Of the church leaders.
But the proposal is influentially supported
and in itself Is significant Of the efficacy
of the opposition's campaign.
The light in which the nonconformists
look upon the bill may be inferred from
the following extract from an editorial in
the British Weekly:
The Anglican priesthood have for the first time
made exactly the claims Of the Roman Catholic
priesthood. The Roman Catholics have
always claimed to be Independent of all govern
mcnts, and to use all governments for their own
purposes. Now they have secured temporary
triumph. The Anglicans have gone to the
Romans and make their claim. The government
Of the country has been handed over to the bfsh-
ops. They will give us as much liberty
as they unable to take away from us-that
and no more. This Is the principle of Roman
ISM
The extremity of hostility is reached in
the project for a general refusal to pay
the school rates levied under the bill when
passed. The names and addresses Of those
who pledge themselves to refuse to pay
the rates are now being enrolled and the
Fulham borough council has announced
that if the bill is applied to London, the
council will refuse to carry out it's provi-
sions. and it is estimated that 1870 free
church councils throughout the country
will have already adopted plans for posi-
tive resistance of one sort or another.
The government may thus find Itself
compelled either to put citizens into prison
by the thousands or allow the law to re.
main imperative.
A Very Bitter Feeling. ..<
A great many people are looking FORWARD
to the early dissolution Of parliament, ;
general election and the return of the lib
erals to power. e.. = 80. b. e..
The education Dill Wh1cn the caDlnel i
trying to force down the unwilling throat
of the people has wrecked all chances Q
a successful Balfourian administration
Education is dull subject at all times i
matters of controversy and this educa
ton bill does not differ in this respec
from it's many predecessors. The peopl
at large are not particularly interested i
the various clauses of the bill. All the
believe about it is that it constitutes a.
attempt on the part of the esablishe
church to throttle all other denomination
in school matters. The outlines Of til
bill they claim, show that if 1t wer
passed it would entirely bar all but mem
bers of the Church of England from
voice IN the education of their children
that while all sects, Catholic, Methods
=, Wesleyan Quaker, Swedenborgian. Jew
! ish Mohammedan. would have to pa
: heavy rates, the Church Of England woul
have the disposal Of the funds. the ar
pointment of the teachers and the reguls