EDUCATION DESPAIR.
THE continued fierceness of the Tory press with reference to the Government's Education proceedings has caused us to look at them again and again, in the hope of discovering sonic correspond- ing claims to our gratitude and support. When your dog pokes his nose into a hole and begins barking, you conclude he smells a rat, and naturally look for sport : sometimes, however, it happens that the rat lies been there, but is gone, while Old Towler, deceived by the scent, continues agitating himself unreasonably. This seems to be the case at present with the Tory dogs ; for we cannot for the life of us discover any thing to bark at, much as we could desire it, in the Education grant. It must be the remains of the normal smell, we suppose, which so irritated the Tory nostrils; in the abandoned scheme.
It is unquestionably the most sad and signal evidence yet re- ceived of the wretched mistake of the Whigs, in the policy pur- sued by them " of late years," that they have failed to make Na- tional Education call forth the universal enthusiasm of the country. It is obvious that if the number of petitions presented in favour of their measure, and the number presented against it,* were to be taken as any test of the estimation in which the boon of National Edu- cation is held throughout the country, Reformers might reasonably despair—nay, they would have at once to allow that, as a party, they were virtually extinct. The measure of Universal Education has ever been the brightest and hopefullest star in their political hemisphere. If it can be proved that the people are averse or even indifferent to that question, then is popular freedom a mere delu- sion, Reform a dream, public opinion has been systematically mis- stated, and the sooner the Tories return to power with their old majorities in Parliament, the sooner will the country be represented truly and the people be satisfied with the administration of their affairs. But knowing as we do, that Liberal politics have taken deep and lasting root in the national mind,—knowing as we do,
* The Twenty seventh Report of the Petition Committee, delivered with the Parliamentary Papers this morning, gives— Total number of Petitions ayeinst the Govern-
ment scheme 1,382. with 136,6N signatures.
Total number of Petitions fur the scheme 5, with 663 signatures.
This account is made up to the 7th instant : many petitions have been pre- sented since, but probably without materially affecting the proportions.
that the tide of public opinion sets steadily in the direction of Re. form, however this or that wind nifty toss the spray or curl the water at its surface,—we can only i
lament the present paralyzing effects of Whig treachery and cowardice in depriving us of all useful support from the popular arm. What man of sense can doubt for a mo- ment, that had the Whigs pursued an honest and consistent course of Liberal policy from 1832, or even from 1837, to the present time, they would now, on proposing a measure of universal popular education, (not, indeed, the miserable compromise we hare just seen withdrawn, but such a measure as such a course would have rendered feasible,) have rallied the whole nation round them and have carried their point by acclamation ? Now—the Tories gain an easy victory. The Whigs will probably allow the truth of our remark when we say, that on no question of general policy, ia which they have been in collision with the Tories-i.& we remember to have seen exhibited by the latter so much of thew ancient over- bearing insolence, selfish intolerance, bigotry, and contempt of reason—so many, in fact, of the worst features of their party in their most prominent and offensive coarseness. Yet stirs no man a finger to save the Whigs from their fury! Now, had Ministers commanded the confidence of the people in this posture of affiths, how long, think you, would the country have left th ese rabid dogs ungagged—that now scour the land, barking and biting, and endea- vouring to make every dog as mad as themselves?
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