The question of primary education was to prove for the next half-century a source of continuous political and religious strife, dividing the people of Holland into hostile camps.  The question was whether the State schools should be “mixed” i.e. neutral schools, where only those simple truths which were common to all denominations should be taught; or should be “separate” i.e. denominational schools, in which religious instruction should be given in accordance with the wishes of the parents.  A bill was brought in by the government (September, 1854) which was intended to be a compromise.  It affirmed the general principle that the State schools should be “neutral,” but allowed “separate” schools to be built and maintained.  This proposal was fiercely opposed by Groen and gave rise to a violent agitation.  The ministry struggled on, but its existence was precarious and internal dissensions at length led to its resignation (July, 1856).  The elections of 1856 had effected but little change in the constitution of the Second Chamber, and the anti-revolutionary J.J.L. van der Brugghen was called upon to form a ministry.  Groen himself declined office, Van der Brugghen made an effort to conciliate opposition; and a bill for primary education was introduced (1857) upholding the principle of the “mixed” schools, but with the proviso that the aim of the teaching was to be the instruction of the children “in Christian and social virtues”; at the same time “separate” schools were permitted and under certain conditions would be subsidised by the State.  Groen again did his utmost to defeat this bill, but he was not successful; and after stormy debates it became law (July, 1857).  The liberals obtained a majority at the elections of 1858, and Van der Brugghen resigned.  But the king would not send for Thorbecke; and J.J.  Rochussen, a former governor-general of the Dutch East Indies, was asked to form a “fusion” ministry.  During his tenure of office (1858-60) slavery was abolished in the East Indies, though not the cultivation-system, which was but a kind of disguised slavery.  The way in which the Javanese suffered by this system of compulsory labour for the profit of the home country—­the amount received by the Dutch treasury being not less than 250 million florins in thirty years—­was now scathingly exposed by the brilliant writer Douwes Dekker.  He had been an official in Java, and his novel Max Havelaar, published in 1860 under the pseudonym “Multatuli,” was widely read, and brought to the knowledge of the Dutch public the character of the system which was being enforced.