The Portland daily press., 1880-04-30
A Political Primer. =

Years ago the reading of the constitution
of the United States was part of the regu-
lar exercises in everypuhlic school in Maine,
Perhaps it did as much toward making
intelligent citizens as the reading of the
New Testament does toward making good
men. Certainly those who do the major
part OF the voting to-day have scant ac-
quaintance with the charter of our liberties,
and would make sorry figures in a compet-
tive examination wish their fathers in
which the subject chosen should be the
Federal constitution. They refer to that
instrument with frequency which sug-
gests familiar acquaintance; but their
knowledge of it is rather more vague than
that possessed of Milton by the general
reader-for extracts from Paradise Lost
are to be found in many of the textbooks
in use in our schools.
1t was unwise to drop the reading of the
constitution, and in this respect the COM
mon school course might be improved by a
return to the practice of our fathers. Yet
further improvement is desirable if we wish
our last state to be better than our first
Though Incidence and indifference and
aversion cannot destroy the influence of
iteration, yet thorough study of the con-
stitution is obviously preferable to that
hasty reading, without comment or eluci-
dation from the teacher, which the morning
hour of the school day affords. The study of
the school course, and a suitable textbook
should be put into the hands of pupils.
Perhaps the Rev. DR.. Champlin had such
a need in mind when he prepared the brief
treatise on the constitution that has lately
been issued by Boston publishing house.
He certainly could not do better had he
the plan of textbook in mind. Dr.
Champlin has made speciality of constitu-
tional law, and has devoted to it much
study during his laborious and useful life
The papers on the subject which from time to
time, he has contributed to the daily jour-
nails, are doubtless fresh in the minds of
our readers. The volume whose title is
given below presents with great distinct
ness and in form sufficiently condensed for
the purpose of a textbook and for the use
of the general reader the result of his
studies. The plan is admirably conceived
and the execution fully as successful; for
we are furnished with clear, discrimina-
ting and comprehensive view of the consti-
tuition and the relations it establishes be-
tween the National and State governments
made more valuable by the incidental co1u-
ments interspersed ON the constitutions of
France and England. Our own constitution
is taken up section by section and the mean
ing Of each provision amply explained The
volume opens with terse account of the
circumstances under which the Federal
union was formed, and furnishes in the
way of appendix the old articles of Confed-
Grafton, the Declaration of Independence
and Washington's farewell address. A
more satisfactory manual V lld be difficult
to provide; it certainly .nnot now be
found. The book will take rank with Nord-
hoffs Politics for Young Americans and
other manuals of that high class.
CONSTITUTION of the United States, with briei
| commments ON the Constitutions of England and
| France By j. II. Champlin, d. D., LII. d., late
| President of Colby University. Boston: John
| Allyn. Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon