Page:Back to the Republic.djvu/99

 equipped for the duties of citizenship when they become of age.

Our colleges and universities could teach their students the meaning of a republic and how to administer government in accordance with the plan of a republic, and equip students who have a taste for public service with information that would make them useful instead of cramming their heads with unsound theories and impractical suggestions which give them no concept of what a republic is or of its plan of government. The graduates of our State universities receive sixteen years' education at the expense of the State, and for that they owe the public, which pays the bill, at least the return of intelligent and effective citizenship.

If this plan were adopted foreigners who come to this country would gain a clearer conception of the genius of our government in four years than they now acquire, in the present mixed state of affairs, in twenty years.

At this time, too, when women are taking on the added duties of citizenship, they could give much better coöperation if the machinery of government were simplified and clarified.

This plan would save millions of dollars annually to the taxpayers, to say nothing of the millions it would save to the public officials, who are