and the conservatives were united in opposition, unless concessions were made in the matter of religious education.  Such concessions as were finally offered were rejected (April, 1886), and Heemskerk offered his resignation.  Baron Mackay (anti-revolutionary) declining office, a dissolution followed.  The result of the elections, however, was inconclusive, the liberals of all shades having a bare majority of four; but there was no change of ministry.  A more conciliatory spirit fortunately prevailed under stress of circumstances in the new Chamber; and at last, after many debates, the law revising the constitution was passed through both Chambers, and approved by the king (November 30, 1887).  It was a compromise measure, and no violent changes were made.  The First Chamber was to consist of 50 members, appointed by the Provincial Councils; the Second Chamber of 100 members, chosen by an electorate of male persons of not less than 25 years of age with a residential qualification and possessing “signs of fitness and social well-being”—­a vague phrase requiring future definition.  The number of electors was increased from (in round numbers) 100,000 to 350,000, but universal male suffrage, the demand of the socialists and more advanced liberals, was not conceded.

The elections of 1888 were fought on the question of religious education in the primary schools.  The two “Christian” parties, the Calvinist anti-revolutionaries under the leadership of Dr Kuyper, and the Catholics, who had found a leader of eloquence and power in Dr Schaepman, a Catholic priest, coalesced in a common programme for a revision of Kappeyne’s Education Act of 1878.  The coalition obtained a majority, 27 anti-revolutionaries and 25 Catholics being returned as against 46 liberals of various groups.  For the first time a socialist, Domela Nieuwenhuis, was elected.  The conservative party was reduced to one member.  In the First Chamber the liberals still commanded a majority.  In April, 1888, Baron Mackay, an anti-revolutionary of moderate views, became first minister.  The coalition made the revision of the Education Act of 1878 their first business; and they obtained the support of some liberals who were anxious to see the school question out of the way.  The so-called “Mackay Law” was passed in 1889.  It provided that “private” schools should receive State support on condition that they conformed to the official regulations; that the number of scholars should be not less than twenty-five; and that they should be under the management of some body, religious or otherwise, recognised by the State.  This settlement was a compromise, but it offered the solution of an acute controversy and was found to work satisfactorily.

The death of King William on November 23, 1890, was much mourned by his people.  He was a man of strong and somewhat narrow views, but during his reign of 41 years his sincere love for his country was never in doubt, nor did he lose popularity by his anti-liberal attitude on many occasions, for it was known to arise from honest conviction; and it was amidst general regret that the last male representative of the House of Orange-Nassau was laid in his grave.