Political Science.

The opportunities for the systematic study of historical and political science are yearly approaching a satisfactory condition both in this country and abroad in proportion as the scientific method is superseding the old methods based on chronological, on narrative and be it said on pedantic ideas of these branches. The proper study for mankind is man, and that one of the trinity (so to say) of the humanitarian studies-literature, philosophy and political science-which has to do most broadly with man's concerns-with his concerns as a social being, has been neglected the longest so far as actual academic institutions go. The watchword, which best represents the spirit of the new movement which is on its way to revolutionize the old state of things in this study, is Freeman's well-known definition of History as past Politics; Politics as present History. This is the principle which animates the new study. Its method is found in an adaptation of the modern scientific method of Agassiz, of Humboldt, and of Darwin, to the past and present facts of man's political existence. The works of Freeman, of Sir Henry Maine, of Von Holst, are of this school.

What exactly are the opportunities of students, especially in this country, for organized work in this branch of scientific investigation, it is the purpose of this article to set forth in some degree. There are three institutions in the United States, we believe, where by means of specially organized departments or of special seminars, opportunities are offered for systematic work in historical and political science-at Columbia, at the University of Michigan, and at Johns Hopkins University. Harvard has practically no organized graduate department and although her lecture courses in the two departments of history and political economy cover to a considerable extent, the ground covered in direct instruction at the institutions we have named, yet this fact of the absence of regularly organized seminar work and of a school or department for specialized work in these branches, technically would exclude her from our list, as they exclude Yale and other colleges. The school of political science at Columbia aims (a) to fit young men for all the political branches of the public course; (b) to give an adequate economic and legal training to those who intend to make journalism their profession; and (c) to supplement the instruction in the law school. The regular course is for three years and leads to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Only college graduates are admitted as candidates for this degree. The instruction includes: In the first year, Political Geography; Political and Constitutional History of Europe; of England; History of Politico-Economic Institutions; Taxation and Finance, and the History of Political Theories from Plato to Hegel. In the second year, Roman Law; and Comparative Constitutional Law of England and the U. S., and of the several Commonwealths of the Union. In the third year, the History of Diplomacy, Public and Private International Law; Adminstrative Law of Europe, of the U. S., and of the several States; and Social Science. The instructors are Profs. Burgess. Alexander. R. M. Smith, Munroe Smith, and Messrs. Goodnow, Whitridge, and in addition two transient lectureships.

College students of two years standing are admitted to the School of Political Science at Michigan University. Students may be admitted to the Bachelor's degree within a year and a half, or to the Master's within two years and a half after entering the school. The degree of Ph. D. may be given two years after the Bachelor's degree. A list of 32 courses is given under the heads of History, Economic Science, Political Ethics, Constitutional, Administrative and International Law and Social and Sanitary Sciences; from this the student can select his course. The seminary method is largely used in many of the courses, and in addition there is a Political Science Association divided into five sections (Historical, Economic, Administrative, Pedagogic and Scientific) for voluntary work and the benefits of mutual stimulus and co-operation. The courses in history, 12 in number, cover the ground of (1) The General Institutional History of Europe, (2) The Political and Constitutional History of England, and (3) of the U. S., a including special seminar for the study of Constitutional Questions in English and American History. There is also a special seminar in American Finance and in methods of Local Government in Europe and America. In Economic Science there are six courses including one on the History of Industrial Society and on Taxation (by Judge Cooley). The subject of Political Ethics embraces courses on the Theory of Rights by Judge Cooley, on the Philosophy of Government (views of Aristotle, Spinoza, Hobbes, Hegel, Spencer, Mulford, etc.,) and the History of Political Theories. There are also courses on International Law and History of Treaties, on American Constitutional Law, on Local Administrative Law, on Methods of the English Government and on Social Science. The instructors are Pres. Angell, Profs. T. M. Cooley, C. K. Adams, Geo, S. Morris, Henry C. Adams and Messrs. Dunster, Payne, Hudson and Vaughan.

At Johns Hopkins University the undergraduates instruction in History and Political Economy covers the usual ground of a complete college course, including an interesting course by Dr H. B. Adams on the Modern State System. The graduate instruction by the seminar method, aiming at thorough and original work in some special line, varies somewhat from year to year. There are courses in the History of Politics, on Finance and Taxation. and on Methods of Administration. The Seminary of American History and Economics during the present year is engaged in investigations in (1) American Institutions of Government, (2) History of Political Economy in the U. S., and (3) Representative State Constitutions. The investigation last year included American Institutions and Economic and American Colonial History. A voluntary Political Science Association also supplements the work of the regular courses. Nine lectures by eminent specialists were secured by it last year. Dr. H. B. Adams, Dr. Ely and Dr. Jameson have charge of the graduate work.

It will perhaps be interesting to compare with these American schools the instruction offered at the Free School of Political Science in Paris. The course is for two years, extending from November to June. Instruction is divided into four sections, Administrative, Diplomatic, Economic and Financial, and the General Section. The latter department would doubtless be of most value to the American student, as the aim of the others is more confined, being chiefly directed to fit for the civic and diplomatic service of France. In this section, devoted to Public Law and History, the instruction includes: Comparative Civil Legislation, (by Prof. Flach); Constitutional Law of France, England and the U. S. (M. Boutney, member of the Institute); Study of the Constitutions of Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy, (Lebon); Parliamentary History of France since 1780, (Messrs, Ribot and Charmes, of the Chamber of Deputies;) Diplomatic History since 1789 (Gorel); View of Contemporary Europe, (Leroy-Beaulieu); The Eastern Question since 1856, (Vandal); International Law, (Brentano); Political Economy, (Cheysson); Finances, (Leon Say); Comparative Administrative Systems, (Precourt); Comparative Commercial Legislation, (Lyon-Caen); Private International Law, (Renault); and a second course in political economy, by M. Dunoyer. Ten other courses in the remaining sections would also be open to the special student. The instructions aims to be very exact. "Institutions and facts are laid down only as they actually exist. The historical and comparative method is largely followed. The address of the director, we may add, is 27 Rue Saint-Guillaume, Paris.

The aim of the schools at Columbia, at Ann Arbor and at Paris, it will be seen. is largely to give what may be called professional instruction. Johns Hopkins aims at original scientific investigation. Harvard holds to the old method of direct instruction, (with unimportant exceptions), in non-professional lines. There are no courses at Harvard, we believe, in Administrative Law, in the History of Political Theories, (slightly touched on in Phil 5 and Greek 8), or practically in Social Science. The instruction in Several other branches is also inferior in extent to that at these schools. The aim of Harvard in this matter, we believe, is to secure exact scholarship, rather than to offer the widest practical advantages.

C.