New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
LIBERAL POLICIES.
The Education and Licensing Bills
Record against Lords

erd tac- or viu he create dissepsons by driv-
i-s them with too tight rein? This is what
interests outsiders. who lack patience for read
r. speeches and watching hy-play. The main
business the session il the passage through
30 -,u7r-aous under high pressure OF tuo meas
---es u-hich will either be rejected outright by
re Lords or rnutilz;ed beyond recognition
---v sso.,Id e-v one take a serious view of
either ot them
There would he profound public interest IN
NJ McHenns's bill if il were comprehensive
MEASURE for seculsrizing common schools and
--c--o;ius their efficiency. This Is what earnest
Radicals and Labor members want, and since
thev do not get II they are not deeply concerned
with the fate Of this government measure either
g. Common. or Lords Moderate Liberals and
conservatives assume that the majority OF pa
rents in England and Wales do not wish 70 have
The schools sec-lla-1ze6 r1t prefer 10 have cate
-his-2e- and dogma taught, OF at least to have
rre- Bible explained in a ooloriess. undenonlna-
ric-.sI way This may or may not be true; but
- overwhelming majority IN favor Of secular
caucs-iou rIn inevitably Re created If the hope
less Process of easing consciences be PTolonseo
indefinitely.
The conscienoes never are eased. for one man
relief IS arcther'e burden II has been SO since
nr Forster established a system ~ schooi
boz-ds il rusla nd and Wales and affiliated with
bodies SonconforTnists were estransed rom
-. o,--ee- because they held that state aid
zho,Id h@ given only 10 those schools Fnlch
--s-e conducted on secular and undenonina-
-ia-sl prfncipies- Compromises ana conscience
ciarses caused more irritation than they al
1svad and the success Of the council schoois IN
,-ss -he reopenins Of the whole question when
,pa. voluntary schools were unaple 70 coTlpele
;.r then, and we're turned over 20 the pubic
E3aI<
.o-,,o- ~ denonfnational teaching and control
o-ro-<o-n1tsts by the thousand refused 10 pay
-z,es for religious teaching which was contrary
- --ei- co,scierces. Yet when their grievances
= -.5-.seed rv projected legislation ether
mons consciences are rasped and DISTURBED
~ Mckenna-s bill starts out with establish
, -,,r1;c control over rate supported scnools
s-5 abolishing religious tests Tor 'eacneis' la
-ir7sres and rfiniy populated rural areas II
,..-,e szsv the de,ornina tionel schools where
-. ,e-a-s and cstechism Of the Church of Ing
-s,6 a7d other religious bodies are taught aho
zure-f-r-es council schools for them IN Tow
=-d 64rseIv populated districts there Is a lresn
,o--r-o-7ise by which treasury grants are a.
-aze5 for Roman Catholic and Cnurcn o. bns
ard schools: end that sensitive organ ths I'"H-
ro-<o-nlis- conscience is harassed by hair-sPilf-
.f-e distinctions between national taxation ana
local rates Free Church men, who sunn1i''eo
e, le,-5As rJron -rsir private property and even
- f-,--izcn-re-- because they we're unVllins
- rav rates for religious teaching, are not con-
z-tnoed that their consciences are eased ny q
-,----o-o:se which sanctions general ta1aflon
Fc- denou1fna-iona! education
~ -he ether hand there are the fresh grew
z7-ez of the English Church men and the Roman
r.4bo,fcs They have invested an immense
--7,--7- o< money in schools which they ind
= f--prz bic 20 maintain il high state u
~ 81
-so-- from the council schools with the rate-
,s-e-s' money behind them They DO not want
- have the Bible read and commented upon IN
a u7dero-7tnationaI way. nor 20 be rated ana
-s-e6 for education which is entirely free from
-sli-so-5s dogma The teaching Of their oEn
-s-a-7is-7g i- the schools, which they are sur
a-1e-s-7- 90 the state Is q matter Of conscience
-4-r -herr- and they are in revolt against MY
Nr-e-7e's bill and expect the lords under
re leadership Of the bishops 70 reject IL Nhal-
e--e- nav be the fate Of the measure the strlIe
ove- cs-echisr7s and denorrinational STANDARDS
--iu continue unabated- Apparently me eouCe-
-.o-z1 authorities are never 20 have leisure 10Y
concentrating their energies upon efhciency II
--e-hod ard practical results until the schoois
zu1,o--ed b. public money are absolutely sec
ula-tzed- as fl America
r there IS little in the education bill 70 excite
~ enthusiasm OF thoroughgoing. progressive
s-ro1-s cement in the licensing bill as prac-
rcsI measure Of temperance. Il viii close II
Is --va from thirty thousand TO thirty-two
thousand public houses and drinking places II
-rc course q fourteen years; Yet by the log"
Of the system Of corpensations the effect OF the
diminished facilities for obtaining liquor VIII
not Be marked decrease N drinking. Inc
financial 5ureien involved By the withdrawal OF
licenses vii fall upon public houses which are
---~ oSeS and
-.eo-- .ha. .rev will get the entire traffic Of
hose formerly licensed. In rural areas men
--av have n q longer distances Tor hqUcr' ou'
-he- are likely 70 make more oehoera'e llf-'O
AID % oota:n supplies for home use IN 'oNls
and closely populated districts there VIII De
----rn--sr,o- % traffic in crowded ba-rcons
vtthout any reasonable probability OF z oecilIle
=. i-ter.pe-zuce Indeed. the Chancellor of the
rxcheoue- himself does not appear TO expect any
-zfe-tsl loss OF revenue from excise: nor 90 the
grz-istcs % rhe las; thirteen years warrant t7
conclusion that a reduction Of licenses irnpnes
-eze- convictions to- drunkenne and improved
hshits u so5rietv among working people
TIE go-e-r-re-- il proposing orastic meas
r-s tor closing ore-rhird Of the drinking places
= fourteen --e.-s his 70 meet a general conVlc-
,o- ar1o7- n-srr;csr resorrrers that temperance
c41Iot D. directly promoted by legislation
here i irresistible force in the conclusion tha'
--e most effective methods Of warfare against
c-ankennesg ere social reforms for improving
'--e condition q the masses by Increased laCIl-
les to- education cornforta BILE living and "hole
-oTne recreation. Old age pensions WITHOUT iiioi
-fe-aI Contributions cannot be resaTdeo @S oi'0
.. 41ese helpful Influences. since the Necessity
-"T thrift ig dispensed with and pensioners are
% d aided :ndiscriTntnately without reTeTefce