THE EDUCATIONAL FRANCHISE.
San-There will be many objections to details of the proposed Educational Franchise. Will you permit me to dispute the principle ? The present system is based on property, a representation of interest. This requires of the enfranchised the possession of some amount of property, a common in- terest in the general good. Will the possession of education confer the like common interest ? It may be answered, that education when finished does confer fitness for the franchise, in enlargement of mind, equal to any ma- terial superiority. But education is a means, not an end ; it gives its pos- sessor an advantage in competition with others, that should make the at- tainment of a property qualification an easy labour. Educational is intel- lectual industry, and has as much right to be represented as any other in- dustry. The enfranchisement of the industrious classes is a favourite project ; the objection to which is that it would tend to the spoliation of capital, and so destroy production. But education is thought to supply its own cor- rective to those snares which endanger the adept in manual industry. Education in its best sense is never complete, but ordinarily it is a fitness for some particular sphere of action. This fitness is evidenced by success in the proposed calling, and success results in independence. He who has attained personal independence is fit to influence the fortunes of others by his voice at elections for the Legislature. There is no merit in education, to set it above industry, as respects its recipients. Much, however, belongs to the educators, direct or indirect-parents and guardians, schoolmasters, charitable promoters, and those who study how best to diffuse instruction. But education has nothing to do with votes ; it should enable its possessors to obtain the franchise, not entreat a Minister to bestow it. The common suspicion against Government interference with education is, lest it should sap independence, and accustom the recipients to look to be fed whence they are taught. The seed is to produce the crop ; but if the educated are to be ever clamouring for aid, it would be much cheaper for Government to maintain them at once. Demand for political recognition differs from that for material assistance, but since a moderate degree of success will attain the franchise, one demand is as unworthy as the other.
[For Booxs, and FINE ARTS, see the accompanying Monthly Supplement.]
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