The Dissenters, or a portion of the very miscellaneous class
so called, are organizing an opposition to the educational scheme promulgated by Lord Lansdowne, which threatens to he as formidable as that encountered by the educational clauses of Sir James Graham's Factories Bill. One symptom of the ex- tent and earnestness of the resistance is the fact that it has over- ridden the controversy between Mr. Edward Baines junior and Dr. Vaughan—the antagonist and the champion of State in- struction. It is to be inferred that the use of the Church Cate- chism in the subsidized schools is the thing which has enabled Dr. Vaughan to justify to himself the abandonment of his post of honour. But as the Dissenters have absolutely refused concur- rence in a State system of education they can scarcely be sur- prised if the State goes on without them, and with the Estab- lished Church, which had become so much leas impracticable. Among the arguments now advanced is the curious one that if the Government plan be carried out, its superior advantages will clraw teachers and pupils away from the Dissenters' schools ; and we observe one gentleman who says that, to counteract the effect of that superior attraction, the Dissenters will be obliged to lay out a great deal more money—in other words, to make their schools more efficient We do not doubt it that is one of the very arguments which we have used for a State system ; and we are glad to see it admitted that even the paltry instalment now given by the Government will have the effect of raising the standard of excellence in all schools. Without any compulsion, therefore—with full swing still allowed to voluntary exertions— the Government plan will have a wholesome effect beyond the bound of its direct operation.
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