A GOVERNMENT dependent for its existence upon the inte purity of public opinion cannot long maintain itself uncha the ideas upon which it was founded be uniformly taught cessive generation of the people. Were the children of all citizens, whether native or f alike instructed in American principles, no apprehension fo rity or perpetuity of the American system need disturb the of the patriot. But with the ballot in the hands of every man, and the the country committed to the control of the majority-be th native or foreign, educated or ignorant, liberal or prejudice white, Republican or Democratic-are we sure of either the the perpetuity of our institutions, unless the principles whi them are brought home to the conscious knowledge of the the people? Yet, what have we hitherto accomplished in popular politi tion? Grant that Story, Kent, Lieber, De Tocqueville, Duer and many other able minds, have exhausted research in the addresses to the educated; how many of all who wield the ba read their works, or are capable of understanding them? C the newspaper, the court-room, the political convention, t meeting, the stump speech, the Fourth of July oration, are co refracting some detached ray from the American system of does the |