The Portland daily press., 1889-01-25

As the schools In which they were educated
did not furnish them the desired information,
they have fallen back upon their only re-
source-that of self-eulture in the desired dl-
rection. To this end they are holding pri-
yate meetings for reading the best works
they can find on the subject. and availing
themselves OF the counsel Of the best in
formed Of their friends. Their course might
we'll be initiated by all young Americans Of
both sexes.
But what shall be said Of the system Of ed
ucation which renders II necessary for fairly
educated young people of either sex to rely
entirely, upon their own exertions for a
knowledge OF what ought to be the very
groundwork Of every intelligent Americans
education? Is 1t not a shame that even
natiye-born American children are dependent
upon private association with those like
minded with themselves for an opportunity
to study intelligently the Constitution Of the
United States? Is the shame not all the
greater In view OF the millions OF foreigners
that are becoming American citizens without
an opportunity Of becoming Amertcanized?
The extent TO which this Ignorance OF the
form q government prevails vail even
Gated Is appalling. The legal profession af-
fords the only exception to this rule, and it
Is entirely safe to say that nine-tenths Of the
law students learn little or nothing OF the
Constitution until they leave school and col
lege and enter upon the course OF study pre-
scrlbed for admission into their future pro-
fessi0n. Business men, teachers, physicians
and preachers are well posted In nearly every
thing but that which they should know most
about, and hence 1t comes to pass that the
country is oyerrun with a constantly increas-
Ing army OF well meaning eranks, male and
female. who think the millennium may be
ushered In by an act OF Congress.
Every child, native or foreign born, should
be taught in the school or college 1t attends
the principles upon which our Government
rests. He should know Just what Congress
may and may not do, the limits and scope Of
the executive and judicial powers granted
by the Constitution, and, above all, he should
learn that the Constitution was the result Of
years Of striving toward union of separate
republics and that II was sacred compact,
In tile making OF which each State with many
misgivings at the time surrendered some
thing for the general good. IL all the Amer
lean citizens understood the almost insur-
mountable difficulties under which the Con-
stitution was framed and adopted there
would be less disposition to violate its pro-
visions or to treat them as OF no Importance.
ror the present no adequate public prOyis-
ION rs made for the instruction Of the young
IN the principles OF the American system OF
government and those who want to know
something OF It must do like the New York
giris-teach themselves. Fortunately the
Iaal maaaitipiication oi Libraries and books makes
this comparatively easy task, IL some way
could be devised Of making 10 fashionable. 1t
has been the fashion Of late to despise eyerys
thing American, but may 1t not be hoped that
this movement Of the New York girls means
the Inauguration Of healthy change? so
cieties for the study Of the Constitution were
organized In every neighborh00d perhaps
the educators Of the country would wake up
to the fact that knowledge Of the form OF
government under which it lives Is quite as
important to an American child as a kn0wl-
edge OF two or three dead languages.