Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-12-02
Political Education.

Political Education.
"rhat which they have done, but
earnest of the things thn. they shall do"
though doubtless apt ia Tenny son's appli-
cation of It to the human brotherhood at
large, Ia specially so in all that concerns
education. Not only is the expansion of
the mind infinite, but also, as 1t would
seem, that of the wants and complexities
of society. None, of course, can be more
exigeant than those pertaining to govern
ment. Therefore. that society for
political education should be formed
augurs knowledge of supreme need If
we look abroad we see that our elrcum-
stances are peculiar. We are Of some
age. Orudities that may be forgiven,
though deplored, in the ftisky and gush-
ing young republic of France are quite
out of place in view of our hundred years.
Comparison with Germany helps US very
little. Even old Homer observed that the
gods did not, as rule, bestow all their
gifts upon single individual. Germans
may have the most elepbantine brains in
sx'stence, but there is compromising
trouble in yoking them to the practical
work of life. How few mechanic inven-
lions are owed to them. Consequently
they obey strong will and clear-sighted
intellect as the most ponderous ship does
the motions of the helm, and ars very far
indeed from any government like ours
except in the crude conception formed OF
1t in few fevered and fanatic brains.
With England We affiliate more nearly,
nut. though We are the two nations upon
,arth most conspicuously benefited by
,ettled constitutional government and are
ne Same In race aud language, yet circun-
,snces differ radically.
rhe glory aud safety OF England is in
ier trained Legislators. rhe amoust Of
'rudgery gone through by men who, from
neir oirth, expect political lnhu=noe, Ii
ppalling. Whatever their abilities the
RAINING cannot be gainsaid.
Mr.. Gladstone's cabinet is essentially
LIBERAL, rs democratic, indeed, as anything
can be In the present status of L Iglist
politics. Yet, noticeably, scarcely a mar
here but was born to wealth and ha,
sujoyed the training of one of the great
universities.
Such a state of things is alien to GU,
polity. That mans father has he'll:
'tfi,e is rather reason that he shoulc
not, and as to literary people the Nation
at large seems quite at one with tn,
opinions of the elder Mr.. Cameron. Th,
idea that any man should be born +,
expect office Is abomination to us.
| If then, some cannot be trained for it
all must. IL is folly to scorn the aggre
gate political wisdom of the past. B.
acquaintance with it the average America,
must be made equal to the possibilities o
nls birthright il he is not to barter then
Tor potiage or - uncertain dollars.
So to speak, we haze no foreign polio
and may thank heaven for it. England /
entangled, hampered, melted upon ever
side. The case of our own already in
perial domains is all that fate demands Q
us.
The mistakes of England are mostl
abroad, where, as observed, our chance
are fortunately limited, we being force
therefore to commit our blunders in tn
bosom of our family. Still even our ow
people cannot stand them indefinitely.
OF financial blunders, one may almol
say England is exempt. True there com
grievous Iudian dehcita and unwelcom
taxes, yet, on the whole, her path
manly aud straightforward.
In that line, with development
resources and increase of commerce, OF
responsibilities will become more onerou
and strength and judgment to meet then
If they come at all, must work up from tt
masses. This seems appreciated by thos
who have sketched the schedule for IL
first year s course of reading of this societ
since they place therein the excellent al
authoritative work OF McAdsm, "Alphab
of Finance TIE remaining three work
which certainly make no utterly exhau
tive demands upon time, are Nurdho1
Politics for Young Americans" PER-,
"Gutrodac lou to Political Economy" al
JJhnson's History of American Politics
The whole can be procured from ii
PutnAm5 of New York, tor 50