Mr. Gladstone's speech at Hawarden seems to have been entirely
intended for the locality, his object being, as only one- fifth of the children were nnprovided, for, to secure a Committee which would educate the remainder. He appears, however, to have made use of one remarkable, though imperfectly reported expression, that a man might interpret the Act as implying that voluntary education was best, or that voluntary education was only an expedient to be got rid of when a School Board was appointed. Mr. Gladstone did not speak as Premier at all, but there is a thought in that sentence which is very curious. Is a permissive clause to be added to the Bill under which, if the voters like to pay such rates, they may appoint a School Board, with power to make new schools for the whole population, sufficiently tempting to draw away the children from all others? The effect of that would be to remove the scene of struggle from Parliament to every parish in the country, and give us a different education in every parish.
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