14 JOHN GEOEGE BOUEINOT 



in a coiiutry like this, where the people are of essentially practical instincts in all matters 

 affecting government, the man who should alM'^ays remain a mere doctrinaire or theorist 

 would soon become without weight or strength in the community where he lives ; but 

 whoeA'er brings to the practical discussion of the questions of the day sound knowledge, 

 which is based on the experience of the past, and shows he can well adapt principles 

 drawn from the great storehouse of soiiud political science to the difficulties of the day, 

 he will be found invaluable as a leader of men and the architect of institutions. 



No human institutions are perfect, but "an increasing purpose" must always dis- 

 tinguish the development of government, and the thoughts of statesmen must be widen- 

 ed "with the process of the suus," by the experiences of the past as set forth in emphatic 

 and pregnant sentences by historical and political writers. 



I have thou.ght it necessary to give these introductory remarks to show the import- 

 ance that a study of Political Science ought to assume in all institutions of high standing ; 

 I hope they will be able from year to year to obtain the services of able men, ready to 

 devote themselves to the elucidation of the various subjects to which I have referred. 

 Lectures addressed to classes in the universities by men engaged in the practical pursuits 

 of law and politics, by men whose opinions are valued by their countrymen for their 

 experieuce and learning, should always supplement the labours of the regular professors 

 and lecturers, who deal mainly with principles and theories of the schools. 



This is the practice of the famous École des Sciences Politiques of Paris ; it is much 

 to be desired that the Canadian universities should obtain the services of the same class 

 of men, who may be willing from time to time to give them the benefit of their knowledge 

 and experience. 



As I have endeavoured very imperfectly to show you in the course of this lecture, 

 there is a rich field of study and research before you. We live in times of great intel- 

 lectual activity, and Canadians must keep pace with the results of thought throughout the 

 world. The facilities that are open to us for extending our knowledge of other countries 

 and of learning valuable lessons from the rich storehouse of their experience, are very 

 sviperior to those possessed by the pioneers and founders of this country. In the times of 

 slow communication with the great outside world, in the absence of electric telegraphs 

 and daily mails, they were at a great disadvantage compared with us, who know every 

 day what is passing in the most distant places of the globe. With our universities, col- 

 leo-es and schools, affording so generous an education in all branches of necessary study, 

 with numerous libraries established in all the principal centres of thought and activity, 

 with scientific and literary societies starting up everywhere, with an able and enterpris- 

 ing newspaper press, circulating varied knowledge of matters of current and immediate 

 interest, young men now-a-days have opportunities for becoming useful citizens which 

 stand out in remarkable contrast with the condition of things even half a century ago. 

 Still, in the early days of trial and struggle in this country, there were men of remarkable 

 ability and knowledge, possessed of a thorough practical comprehension of the necessities 

 of the times, and there was always with the mass of the people that strong common 

 sense, so characteristic of Englishmen, which enables them to tide successfully through 

 difficulties and crises, and without which no learning or knowledge can realize great 

 results in a country like ours. The men who laid the foundations of our social and polit- 

 ical structure, a goodly edifice, whatever some doubting Canadians may say, were men 



