VI AJ^* 



ADMINISTRATIVE NIHILISM 



[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 in- 

 considerable in numbers, nor deficient in support- 

 ers of weight and authority, in whose judgment 

 all this legislation is a step in the wrong direction, 

 false in principle, and consequently sure to pro- 

 duce evil in practice. 



The arguments employed by these objectors are 



of two kinds. The first is what I will venture to 



\ term the cjjsiearffujnenj ; for, if logically carried 



out, it would end in the separation of the people 



of this country into castes, as permanent and as 



