60 



INTRODUCTION 



no country on the earth enjoys so much freedom, so equal a distribution of rights and privileges, 

 with so httle confusion and anarchy, as our own. 



The other republican governments which now exist, some of them ostensibly modeled after 

 our own, exert by no means so happy an influence. It is obvious, that a popular government 

 must be good or bad, according to the character of the people from whom it flows. Wise 

 laws cannot be framed by the ignorant. Free institutions cannot proceed from slaves. An 

 upright, virtuous, and just administration cannot be expected, where the people are vicious and 

 debased. Let us draw this lesson from the spectacle exhibited by the other repubhcs, thai a 

 form of government, however good, will not secure the happiness of a people, unless they are 

 wise and virtuous, and choose the wise and virtuous to administer it. 



5. Colonies. Colonies are estabhshments founded by states, or sometimes by individuals, 

 in foreign countries, for commercial or benevolent purposes ; and subject to the authority of 

 the mother country. Factories are trading stations established in foreign countries. Colonies 

 founded by the transportation of convicted criminals are called penal colonics. 



6. Towns. Cities. Villages. The name of town or city, strictly speaking, is not given 



to a collection of houses on account euher of 

 its extent or population, but in consequence of 

 certain privileges which the place enjoys. A 

 city has a local government, at the head of 

 which is a mayor, or other officer, to regulate 

 its internal affairs. It has also a court, pohce, 

 and system of local laws. 



A town has also some privileges, such as the 

 right to enact certain by-laws appertaining to 

 the place ; or laying taxes for the support of 

 the poor, for the maintenance of schools, and 

 for various other purposes. 



Villages are generally mere collections of 

 houses. In different countries, cities and 

 towns have different privileges, and these terms 

 are, of course, used with various significations. 

 It may be remarked, that the great cities of 

 Europe surpass our own in population and the splendor of their public edifices. The cities 

 of Africa and Asia, though many of them very populous, are inferior both to those of Europe 

 and America, in beauty, comfort, and convenience. A large proportion of the houses are of 

 mud ; the streets are generally narrow, gloomy, and without pavements, and the houses low, 

 with flat roofs. In Persia, and parts of India, there are some gorgeous palaces, which have 

 a certain degree of magnificence ; but they cannot compare with those of Europe for beauty 

 and elegance. 



XII. RELIGION. - ' 



1. Varieties of Religious Systems. All the various religious systems, professed by different 

 nations, may be reduced to two great classes ; the one comprising those which acknowledge the 

 existence of a Supreme God, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, and the other in- 

 cluding those which do not recognise the existence of a Supreme Intelligence. 



2. Fetichism. Sabeism. To the latter class belong the innumerable forms of superstition 

 which prevail among ignorant and barbarous tribes. Fetichism is the worshi-p of fetiches, that 

 is, of various living or inanimate objects of nature ; the elements, rivers, fire, trees, and what- 

 ever else the credulous savage sees endowed with powers of good or evil, become the objects 

 of gratitude or fear and worship. Different forms of fetichism prevail among the negro tribes 

 of Africa, in Australia, Polynesia, and in some parts of Asia and America. The sacrifice 

 of human victims often forms a part of its horrid rites. Sabeism is the worship of the 

 heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars ; this is an ancient form of rehgious faith, but has 

 ceased to prevail very extensively. 



3. Judaism. Judaism acknowledges no revelation, but that made to the Hebrews by 

 Moses and the prophets. The Jews are the descendants of the ancient Hebrews, and 



Washington. 



