The verdict was accepted by the American people, partly because they had always been taught the inspirational theory of their political origin, partly because they were proud of believing themselves self-made, partly because the well-rounded period of the great premier carried conviction with it.

But questionings had already come in the minds of Mer ican scholars, and at Harvard, at Johns Hopkins, at the Uni versity of Nebraska, the English, and subsequently the Ger manic, origin of our institutions had been shown. The two new schools were not rivals, for the English themselves, under the leadership of Mr. Edward Freeman, were studying the Germanic origin of their own local institutions. These theories seemed reasonable, the proof conclusive, and we had come to accept without question this explanation of the source of our political ideas.

But a new school has lately risen, led by Mr. Douglas Camp bell, urging the claims of the debt America owes Holland. We are persuaded that all of our political virtues are inherited from the Dutch, while our political vices come from England. The claims of the new school are yet to be proven, but its rise is of interest as showing that our political origin may yet be shown to be cosmopolitan in character, as were the settlements of the thirteen original colonies.

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