I. 



ADMINISTRATIVE NIHILISM. 



(AN ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MIDLAND INSTITUTE, 

 OCTOBER 9TH, 1871.) 



To me, and, as I trust, to the great majority of those 

 whom I address, the great attempt to educate the people 

 of England which has just been set afoot, is one of the 

 most satisfactory and hopeful events in our modern 

 history. But it is impossible, even if it were desirable, 

 to shut our eyes to the fact, that there is a minority, not 

 inconsiderable in numbers, nor deficient in supporters of 

 weight and authority, in whose judgment all this legis- 

 lation is a step in the wrong direction, false in principle, 

 and consequently sure to produce evil in practice. 



The arguments employed by these objectors are of 

 two kinds. The first is what I will venture to term the 

 caste argument ; for, if logically carried out, it would 

 end in the separation of the people of this country into 

 castes, as permanent and as sharply defined, if not as 

 numerous, as those of India. It is maintained that the 

 whole fabric of society will be destroyed if the poor, as 

 well as the rich, are educated ; that anything like sound 

 and good education will only make them discontented 

 with their station and raise hopes which, in the great 



