Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-08-11
Institute Lectures.


College, delivered the third lecture in the In
stitute course on Monday evening, in Schoo
Hall, taking for his subject: The Study of Po-
litical Science" The hall was well filled, ana
the audience listened attentively to the inter
esting address, which was delivered in an easy
attractive style:
The speaker introduced his subject by
reference to the trial for murder now III
progress. Were a company Of men t.
seize without law man and hang him
for some real or supposed offense, al
would denounce it as most alrociouS
act. But twelve men sitting as a jury
may condemn man TO death and the
whole community. acquiesces- Where
do the Jurors get this right? This opens
up the whole question of the origin and
nature of civil government, which was
ldwelt upon by DR.. Andrews. He held
that it was the result of no social
compact" but that men were SO conSt'
ted by God that wherever there was q
community independent of ali Others
there civil society already existed and
government could be exercised. Men
are born into society as children are
born into the family. Whoever lives
in the State of Ohio is amenable to the
laws of the State whether he will or not
His consent is not asked.
The importance of knowledge of the
workings of our own government to all
our people was spoken of. and especial.
ly to them who by their superior educa-
tion were prepared to be teachers Of oul
youth and leaders of public opinion
That Political Science, or Civil Govern
ment, should be studied in our higher
schools, was argued from its furnishing
a stimulus to subsequent. knowledge
from the foundation of exact and def.
mite knowledge which would thus be
laid, and from the fact that in this way
the great facts and principles would
come to the student free from party
bias. We all read and hear great deal
about government matters, but much of
it is unintelligible for the want of pre-
vious knowledge, and nearly all of IL is
colored by the partisan channels through
which it comes. The subject of govern
ment should be presented to the student
as is the subject of grammar or chemis.
try. The political editorial, the cam
paign speech, and, too often, the discus
end, and not simply to ascertain the
truth. The question in a school or col
lege is, aChGt is the truth? What does
the Constitution say, and what does ii
mean? What are the laws, and what
has been the judicial Interpretation of
them? By a careful study in this way,
during the educational period, of the
important facts and principles of the
American government the young man
is prepared for continual growth in po-
litical knowledge.
The speaker glanced at two or three
points of especial Importance in the stu
dy of our national government, viz: the
period before the Constitution, the Con-
stitution itself, and its workings as
shown in the subsequent history. There
is much vagueness in the public mind
as to our early governmental history.
Many seem to be ignorant as to the Ar
ticleS of COnfederation-when they be-
came operative, when they ceased, what
were their provisions. Dr.. A. spoke OF
the difference between these Articles OH
the one side and the Declaration of In
dependence and the Constitution on the
other. These two were made by the
people and in their name; the Articles
of Confederation were made by Con-
gresS and the States as governments.
Hence they were eventually ignored.
They did not even receive the courtesy
of a repeal. The people saw that they
were not in accordance with the spirit
of our Republican institutions, and they
were left to die natural death.
In, a,.l m hn a
was called to the division of powers be-
tween the States and the Nation. Our
government is peculiar, twofold, double.
No other is like it. We live under two
constitutions-one State, one National.
The people of the whole United States
delegate to the general government cer-
tain powers, ,and the people of Ohio del
egate 10 the State government of Ohio
just as they please of those not pro
hibited by the general constitution, or
given to the United States. Some peOr
pie think the general government to be
one of delegated powers, while the State
governments have inherent power. But
neither the general government nor a
State government has any inherent pow
ers; they are all delegated by the people.
4 uO COlloIlbuolOu VI 0iiiO ohyO GA OooiJ
that all Inherent powers are in the peoi
pie, and the powers not delegated re-
main with the people. AS illustration
of the workings of the Constitution the
speaker took two cases which have
largely occupied the public mind of late
the interference of Congress with elec.
tions of Senators and Representatives in
Congress, and the subject of money.
The first question in each case is, what
power does the constitution give to COM
gress; and the second is; what laws
have been made in the exercise of that
power. The action of Congress in 1912,
providing the mode of electing U. S. SEN
ators; in 1871, requiring elections of Re-
pesentatives by ballot; in 1872 naming
the day when Representatives should be
chosen, was spoken of. So also the va
rions changes in cur gold and silver
coins since 1892, when the first coinage
act was enacted, were recounted, and the
present status of the money question ex-
planned.
The lecture closed with an earnest
appeal to regard the right of suffrage as
trust, a duty as well as right; to pay
due respect to rulers in conduct and
speech, and to elect none to office who
are not worthy of respect and honor.
THE people of the West owe debt OF
gratitude to DR.. Aver for the production
of Ayers Ague Cure, Its timely use