ABSTRACT
The Cabinet’s determination to make the 1888 Session, as much as possible, an “English” one was only increased by the events of the Recess. To begin with, the Opposition had drafted a number of amendments intended to correct the democratic deficiencies of the Bill, where they existed, and so there was always the possibility that, on one or another of these amendments, sufficient Radical Unionists would be recruited to put the Government in difficulties. The steadily growing stream of Coercion news from Ireland, as the full rigour of the Crimes Act came to be applied, made it advisable to offer even “moderate opinion” some hopeful counter-distraction from the gloomy and increasing catalogue of Irish proclamations, police batonings and arrests. Extension of the general provisions of the Factories and Workshops Aas to all employers of labour. Creation of a Minister of Education with control over the whole educational system from the elementary school to the University and over all educational endowments.
