there are wandering tribes who have numerous horses, camels, and horned cattle, with which they move from place to place, in search of pasturage; their chief subsistence being derived from their flocks.

Among these people, some aged man, of great experience and worth, is usually the chief. He is called the patriarch, which means the father of his people; and this idea furnishes the basis of his government; for he is expected to rule over the tribe, as a father would govern his family. This patriarchal form of government is of great antiquity, for Abraham was the chief of a pastoral tribe, and was its patriarch.

Another form of government exists in warlike tribes, where one warrior, more daring, strong, or sagacious than the rest, acquires an ascendancy,

and at last becomes the chief. If he be ambitious he usually goes on to engross all power in his own

person, and becomes a dictator. This is the government of a military chieftain.

When society becomes more advanced, and men live in cities, the military chieftain usually builds himself a palace, and becomes a king. He wishes to strengthen and establish the throne; so he claims to reign by the appointment of God; and, in order to make a strong impression upon the people, he lives in great state, affects to be the favorite of heaven, and maintains that his person should be held sacred. He causes loyalty, which is love of the person and government of the king, to be taught as a noble sentiment, and a duty, not inferior to that of the love of God.

Such a king, in order to strengthen his government, and perpetuate his dynasty, usually takes re to provide that his oldest son, or his heir, all be his successor; and thus makes the crown

hereditary-that is, descending from father to son, &c.

Another cunning artifice of kings, is to get the priests and ministers of religion, as far as he can, to teach, advise, and command the people to obey the king, and hold his person, government, and laws, sacred and inviolable. To attach the people to his interests, he usually establishes a state religion, and requires the people to conform to it. This is supported by the government, and provision is made, by the state, for the priests, so as to ensure their fidelity to the king.

This connection of the government with religion, for the sake of establishing despotic power over the people, is called the union of church and state. It is carefully provided against in our political systems.

When a king is active and ambitious, he usually carries on wars with other countries, thereby seeking to extend his power, to increase his wealth, and glorify his name. If he is successful, he comes at length to unite several countries under one monarch, which, thus united, are called an empire. The king, under such circumstances, reigning over an empire, is usually called an emperor. Thus the monarchs of Russia and of China are called emperors, for their dominions include various countries.

These are some of the simplest forms of government, and in former times, unlimited power was placed in the hands of the patriarch, military chief, king, or emperor. They were therefore, and some still are, mere despotisms.

A democracy is a government of the people. In a strict sense, it is a government in which the people all assemble to make laws, to judge crim

inals, to settle disputes, and to perform all the offices and functions of government.

There never has been, in point of fact, a pure democracy; for, even in ancient Attica, where there was the nearest approach to it, among a population of 400,000 souls, there were but about 20,000 citizens who had a right to take part in govern ment; and but few of these actually concerned themselves with it. In our country, though in form the government is not a democracy, the people at large have more influence; for here, one sixth of the whole population are voters.

A republic is a government in which the people have established a constitution, and in which they choose some of their fellow-citizens to make and administer laws. Each of the United States is

therefore a republic. The government of the United States is formed upon an union or confederation of the several states, and is therefore called a federal republic. Texas, Mexico, Gautimala, and several South American countries, have adopted republican governments.

The distinction between a democracy and a republic is, that in the former, the people act themselves, directly, in the business of government; in a republic, the people choose men to represent them and act for them. In a democracy, there is no binding and controlling constitution, for the people are supreme; in a republic, the people prescribe a constitution, and elect men to act under it. A republic is therefore sometimes called a constitutional, and also a representative govern

ment.

An aristocracy is a government in which the

nobles and those claiming costsin neiviloans from

سمجھے

their wealth or rank, exercise authority, create and carry on the government. An oligarchy is a government in which a few persons, distinguished for their rank, have the supreme control. A mon

archy is the government of an hereditary king or emperor. Most of the governments of Europe are mixed, and partake of several of these forms. I shall have occasion hereafter, in the history of governments, to notice some of these.

There are several terms used in characterizing government, which it is important to understand. A despotic government is one in which power has no check; a tyrannical government is one in which government is exercised arbitrarily, and against law and justice; a free government is one in which the liberty of the citizen is protected, and the rights of man secured.

An aristocratic government is one in which a few distinguished persons have a leading or controlling influence; in this sense, the government