As we remarked last week, the importance of Mr. Gladstone's
speech at Hawarden has been grossly exaggerated. It was a private address to friends and neighbours, and its whole meaning was to explain that as four-fifths of Hawarden was well supplied with schools, the remaining fifth might do with a 'Voluntary Board or Committee, which was at once made up. The speech made by Lord F. Cavendish to the Executive Committee of the Yorkshire District Council of the Liberation Society was much more important, so important that we give its main phrases textually :—" He urged that the English people were the worst educated people in Europe, and that unless Mr. Forster had brought in his Bill they would have remained so. There might be defects—he was not prepared to say there were not—but the measure was the best that could in that Session have been passed. In reference to Mr. Gladstone's speech on Mr. Miall's motion, he said he was aware a bad impression was created, but he had authority to say that Mr. Gladstone did not wish or intend to stop the debate, and he regretted now very much the effect pro- duced. In regard to the Endowed Schools' Commission, he regretted that no Nonconformists had been put upon it, and that all were Churchmen, but he was quite sure this was an accident. Subsequently acknowledging the thanks of the deputation, Lord Frederick, it is stated, expressed the fear that his reply had not been quite as clear as it ought to have been, but, as the deputa- tion would know, he spoke guardedly. This much he might say, he was nearer them in opinion than they might think." All that looks as if the "seventeen defeats" had frightened the Whigs very much indeed, and so far justified the internecine policy of the League.
