The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-03-02
The study OF the science Of Government
in our Common schools.


From the Maine Educational journal OF Education.l
There can bc no more in our common
schools than that of the science of guycrn-
Acnt The object of our school l. to make
good citizens and, in II republican govern.
mcnt, nothing is more important to its citi-
Zens than Acknowledge of it, institutions
In China, the school system Is national !;
and no one is eligible 10 office in the govern.
ment who has not passed through the sever
al grades of the schools, aud distinguished
himself there by high scholarship. The
course of study followed in them is, also, en-
inently national The political morality of
Confucius and his dicples forms the basis :;
and whatever will contribute to the strength
and stability of the government, by inspiring
in the heart OF the pupils love of its nsti.
buttons, and by Installing into their minds
knpwledge Of them. i made to stand out in
hold prominence,
The effect. as IL Is well known, has been to
make China the most Sable government on
earth. The same principle carried out with
the same zeal In all orr schools would not
only foster patriotism but, in an important
and practical sense would fit our youth for
the many and various positions of RESPONSE
bility which the republic will soon call them
10 fill
How to teach II Is the next question. II
may Ice taught n "a general exercise 10 the
whole school; for but few of our scholars
especially IN the winter schools are too young
70 comprehend It, or to classes like any 9th.
sr study In either case the general plan
should be- the same.
Attention should first he directed 10 the
subject of government its necessity and the
different modes of administering it, Then
the constitution of the United States should
he carefully studied. Ii may he treated very
successfully by topics; and In doing so, it is
well to compare each feature with the cor
responding one in the English and Frcuch
governments.
Take, Tor example, the legislative power.
Here will lac learned the manner Ofchoosing
The members of the Senate and the House OF
Representative, the length of their term of
service, their qualifications, etc, and in con-
neciion with these, the same features IN
he English House of Lords and House of
Commons. The hereditary pccrngc of the
form, and the limited range OF the ballot in
elcCting Ia the latter show strikingly how
limited is the power nithc people under the
English constitution iG comparison with the
same under our own. This will suggest sub
leCts, and awaken nn interest for special
reading outside Of the school An inquiry
would naturally arise in regard Ia the five
grades of nobility constituting the House of
Lords, M 4 Ia the reform bills relating 10 the
elections Ia the lower house Here the pu-
pll can ludgt lpi hllls'i' nl the relative mcr-
IT. of the TWO systems 4 government, and
cannot fail Ia Ice impressed with the superior
excellence Of his own
The manner Of cloc,ing, the President viii
bc one of especial interest, involving, ~ IL
does, the method to be pursued when there
Is no election by the people, and suggesting
the course 10 be taken when the office of
president or vice-prcsidcnt or both, become
vacant.
When upon the subject of Impeachment,
let the pupil learn the successive steps OF
procedure from beginning Ia end. who are
liable Ia impeachment, how far judgement, in
case Of impeachment, extends, etc. IL will
be well, also, to look mp, in connection with
IT, the history Of the tive case, of mpcach-
mcnt which have occurred in our history as
a nation.
In the same exhaustive way should De-
treated the subject of the veto power, the
courts, the different powers OF congress, and
every topic upon which the constitution
speaks
The history Of the constitution, by all
means, should not be neglected Very much
may Ice learned of is meaning, aud great as
sistancc derived In the Interpretation of IL by
knowing the circumstances under which il Is
framed.