the divine right of kings. Let us not fall into the equally pernicious error that multitude is divine because it is a multitude. The words of our great publicist the late Dr. Lieber, whose faith in republican liberty was undaunted-should never be forgotten. In discussing the doctrine of "Vox populi, vox Dei," he said,

"Woe to the country in which political hypocrisy first calls the people almighty, then teaches that the voice of the people is divine, then pretends to take a mere clamor for the true voice of the people, and lastly gets up the desired clamor ! " 1

This sentence ought to be read in every political caucus: it would make an interesting and significant preamble to most of our political platforms. It is only when the people speak truth and justice. that their voice can be called the "voice of God." Our faith in the democratic principle rests upon the belief that intelligent men will see that their highest political good is in liberty regulated by just and equal laws, and that, in the distribution of political power, it is safe to follow the maxim, "Each for all, and all for each." We confront the dangers of the suffrage by the blessings of univer

1 Civil Liberty, p. 415.

sal education. We believe that the strength of the State is the aggregate strength of its individual citizens, and that the suffrage is the link that binds in a bond of mutual interest and responsibility the fortunes of the citizen to the fortunes of the State.

Hence, as popular suffrage is the broadest base, so when coupled with intelligence and virtue it becomes the strongest, the most enduring base, on which to build the superstructure of govern

ment.

Our great hope for the future, our great safeguard against danger,—is to be found in the general and thorough education of our people, and in the virtue which accompanies such education. And all these elements depend in a large measure upon the intellectual and moral culture of the young men who go out from our higher institutions of learning. From the standpoint of this general culture we may trustfully encounter the perils that assail us. Secure against dangers from abroad; united at home by the strongest ties of common interest and patriotic pride; holding and unifying our vast territory by the most potent forces of civilization; relying upon the intelligent strength and responsibility of each citizen, and most of all upon the power of truth,

without undue arrogance, we may hope that in the centuries to come, our Republic will continue to live, and hold its high place among the nations

as

"The heir of all the ages, in the foremost files of time."

IV.

Popular Education.

EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE AND THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS, JULY 12, 1880,

AND MARCH 4, 1881.