420 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1855- senting to this course, ministers adopted, almost unconsciously, the only method by which the Ottoman Empire can be gradually broken up without European complications of the most dangerous kind. To perpetuate the Turkish despotism over its Christian subjects would be infamous, if it were pos- sible. To build up independent states, like Roumania, Servia, and Montenegro, having national sentiments and national objects, is the way to emancipate the oppressed subjects of the Porte without leading to the acquirement, by any one western power, of influence and authority which would be regarded as dangerous by the others. With the close of the war attention could be once more directed to domestic reforms, and the question that was first pressed forward was that of national education. On the 6th of March Lord John Russell introduced a series of twelve resolutions which touched on almost every branch 'of the subject, although they everywhere stopped short of the thorough recognition of principles. The resolutions proposed (i) To extend and revise the minutes of the Privy Council ; (2) to increase the number of inspectors ; (3) to appoint sub- inspectors of Dissenting and Catholic schools ; (4) on report of inspectors to form school districts ; (5) to enable sub-inspectors to report on deficiency of education ; (6) to enlarge the powers of the charity commissioners to devote endowments to educational purposes ; (7) to enable ratepayers, in districts where there was a deficiency, to rate themselves ; (8) to enable, under certain circumstances, quarter sessions to impose school rates : (9) to provide for election of school committees by rate- payers ; (10) to regulate religious instruction in rate schools ; (11) to enact that employers should furnish certificates of attendance and pay for instruction ; (12) to encourage educa- tion by prizes and by diminution of school fees. This scheme, it will be seen, was far-reaching, but it did not secure the support of any party. The Radicals were divided, Gibson and Roebuck speaking in favour of secular education, and Miall and Hadfield opposing all State interference. Receiving no general encouragement, Lord John withdrew the resolutions,
