TEE SCIENCE and ART DEPARTMENT Harry Butterworth
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TEE SCIENCEAND ART DEPARTMENT 1853-1900 Harry Butterworth Thesis submitted for-the degree of Ph. D. Department of Eduoation University of Sheffield Submitted July 1968 VOLUME THREE Part Three - Political and Social Setting Part Four - Conclusions, Biographies, Statistics and Bibliography PART III POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SETTING CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Politicians CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Manufacturers CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Press CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Religious Question CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Relations with other bodies 4oi CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE POLITICIANS a) Party differences at government level b) Causes of 'pa'rliamentary opposition i) General areas of criticism ii) The "Royal influence" iii) Specific periods of unpopularity c) Party differences at 'back-bench" level d) The "back benchers" i) Liberals and Radicals ii) Conservatives e) The overall pattern i) "Trial" by Committee and Commission ii) Reasons for consistent unpopularity ßa02 a) Parliamentary differences at government level It would be difficult to argue that the successive leaders of either major party had any consistently maintained policy to promote or to hinder the development of the Departments it has, however, been noted that much of the support for the Consort's schemes in the early days came from the Conservatives. If the attitude shown to the policies and plans of the chief officials by their political chiefs is considered, it will be seen that there were two periods when initial there was notable disagreement, if one leaves aside the time when relationships with Cardwell were so bad. The first of these was at the time of the first Gladstone administration, which was marked, so far as the Department was concerned, by the "economy drive" initiated by Lowe, and by the scheme for the transfer of the responsibility for the Museum to the trustees of the British Museum. The second period was during the last Gladstone and the Rosebery administrations, when Donnelly was faced with a "reforming" chief in the person of Acland. The policies of reform were carried on by Acland's Conservative successors, but there would appear to have been less personal acrimony, if the tributes paid by Devonshire and Gorst to the Secretary were meant sincerely. If, however, one considers the figures of the Department's annual expenditure, slightly better treatment of the Department by Conservative administrationsis revealed. Although relatively minor changes in totals could cause greater fluctuations in the earlier part of the period, there was a increase tendency for a reduction in estimates, and for a slower rate of of expenditure, during Liberal administrations. Only at the very end of the functions by the Department, did period, when there was a gradual giving up of Conservative administrations reverse the trend, and the last of these admini- last, strations finally approved the building programme which was, at to give a proper home to the Museums and to the Schools, although its expenditure on these features lay outside the period of this study* b) Causes of parliamentary opposition i) General areas of criticism The degree of the unpopularity of the Department with Parliament varied from time to time, and the differences which existed are shown, to some extent, by the numbers of individual critics in a particular year. If this is read I Table B 402b ý ýd p p2 -t m z D ýi - b yi DYzD IA V p "'1 v, D3 1 ýji QAD m- A b ýwz ^ r Z Dü f Ä ...Up A'. C iü A A Q at b .ýA RmýL p ÄL M Ö p ý6 ö b 3 $ ä 'Vit ö iS A ä in t roý 1> rý°- 1w ý ° w1 .o 1 Z T o Z 3 C o w Ä N j, 1 r a to VY b m Z bl l/l 3 -4 1 4 2> ö ri N -a b w Cr ý fl m _ Cn ' V1 al d 4ý yl1 D d 3 v A Z r t r A-{ p 1 vu d s 0 uý i fi R' 1- ý I. I la b V t b 1 ý t w ci ýr A 1 OY wtn k V ý 1a t i to M 0 C Pl Z °' n 1 1 QO C ri -0 403 with details of the particular areas of criticism at certain periods, a pattern emerges which is of some interest. An attempt has been made to summarise these details in the tables which are given in succeeding pages. From Table C it will be seen that the Department was consistently belief in criticised for 'hover-expenditure", and that there was a general some that quarters that its accounts and estimates were presented in such a way "jobbery", as well as other misuse of funds, was hidden. There were charges from time to time that the proportions of expenditure on the costs of admini- stration were too high. The Museum was the greatest single target of criticism: objections were usually coupled with criticisms of general administration and expenditure. Fears of over-centralisation, and of an extension of the Depart- ment's powers, were expressed from time to time. Complaints by Members that there was a concentration of resources in the Metropolis were general throughout the period. Irish members were particularly vocal on this point, but the Scots, and later the Welsh, added their objections, and representatives of the English provinces were concerned, too. The objections of many members were based, as will be seen, on a hatred of "government interference". When the principle of state provision of aid to education had been accepted especially by the "newt' generation of Liberals, who wished to extend it, criticisms that the Department was not acting as an efficient agent in that provision were expressed. Relations with its sister Department, and its apparent immunity to Parliamentary control, received particular scrutiny. Doubts were only rarely offered that its teaching was failing in its-, purpose. The "military influence" came under scrutiny at the end of the period, but Cole and Donnelly were criticised by name and by implication on a number of occasions. Features which were really limited to the earliest period were doubts of the whole purpose of the Department, and these were often coupled with fears of the "Royal influence'. ii) The "Royal influence" Reference to the connections between Cole and the Consort have been made! The Consort least made at three approaches to Conservative leaders after his initial success in 1852. Lord Colville, Disraeli's "whipper" (sic) in the Lords, to was asked speak to his chief on estimates in 1857, but even then it was feared that f1some intractable members of the party ... are people with whom little can I Chapter IV Section (j. )(ii) 403 t, PKOV g.v ciao Aiis"4 C4¬ COMD[/ý. iN ºg MusFuM3 oN I srQ A7ioN J RA L. ARIA p :L w m < o ö-to A r r 0ý A in ºý D e) M A to > M 2 A 1 y ä 2 A In r A o = w r 4 r, b b = v D Z, *11 2 m * z z p In < o x D M M T t i p N 2 4 j " Ö 'i o = p A i ä 2 y A b x vi ri z 2 3 2 r ,. d z ý- r Q R, 0 A 0 " r a 2 4 " rh eý k ö tr s o ý" '^ F G -4- 1 x A b 2 ' m ,p 7 n pý 2 2 v ö m ý' j 2 ° .. A z In i Z b ö s r ü, T ý+ 4 A b 'b F ID .t v .ý v I I I I I N 0 h I. A -t 3 ul PH OD r 14 N r1i If bi `ý A C') L 3 In iö p 3 w \ "'t b m A 0 \ ýwti N I I b -- y Fý ý fi r ID 3 m Z N Ilo XI cn n X G 1 4 4o4 1 Kensington to Disraeli's special be done". 'The Prince has recommended he had for help over the protection'", Cole was told in 18582 after asked 3 "promised to do in their power Soulages purchase. Two Commons whips had all Disraeli's to dissuade our people from opposing the museum vote"l and own be if the Commons support could be relied upon, but"there must no surprise The Consort the feeling against the museum showedl', in 1861: was aware of He the name "Kensington need to handle the politicians tactfully. approved "as the fight Gardens; but suggested that it was not given too much publicity , 5 in the list to is not yet over". He "did not wish to appear" of subscribers 6 the He the Soulages purchase, and advised against the dangers of scheme* a counselled "care" over the acquisition of collections; and advised against Museum in 1857, joint visit of Court and politicians before the opening of the legislators8 When Cole while agreeing that there was need to influence Gallery the produced a pamphlet on the transfer of the National even after defeat in 1856, saying "there is no knowing where the noisy opportunists in Parliament will drive the government' 19 the Consort blessed the schemes but 0 strongly advised anonymous publication: He knew that "The House of Commons becomes restive when it thinks that statesmen and Ministers are moved by the 11 2 Crown"". Individual criticisms will be recorded later, but it should be noted that the "Royal influence" objections had begun to subside before the Consort's death. The charge by J.