An immense amount of wretched misgovernment would be avoided if all legislators and all voters would engrave these wholesome definitions upon their minds.  In connection with the books just mentioned much detailed and valuable information may be found in the collections of essays edited by J.W.  Probyn, Local Government and Taxation [in various countries], London, 1875; Local Government and Taxation in the United Kingdom, London, 1882.  See also R.T.  Ely’s Taxation in American States and Cities, N.Y., 1889.

The most elaborate work on our political history is that of Hermann von Holst, Constitutional and Political History of the United States, translated from the German by J.J.  Lalor, vols. i.-vi. (1787-1859), Chicago, 1877-89.  In spite of a somewhat too pronounced partisan bias, its value is great.  See also Schouler’s History of the United States under the Constitution, vols. i.-iv. (1783-1847), new ed., N.Y., 1890.  The most useful handbook, alike for teachers and for pupils, is Alexander Johnston’s History of American Politics, 2d ed., N.Y., 1882. The United States, N.Y., 1889, by the same author, is also excellent.  Every school should possess a copy of Lalor’s Cyclopaedia of Political Science, Political Economy, and the Political History of the United States, 3 vols., Chicago, 1882-84.  The numerous articles in it relating to American history are chiefly by Alexander Johnston, whose mastery of his subject was simply unrivalled.  His death in 1889, at the early age of forty, must be regarded as a national calamity.  For a manual of constitutional law, Cooley’s General Principles of Constitutional Law in the United States of America, Boston, 1880, is to be recommended.  The reader may fitly supplement his general study of civil government by the little book of E.P.  Dole, Talks about Law:  a Popular Statement of What our Law is and How it is to be Administered, Boston, 1887.

In connection with the political history, Stanwood’s History of Presidential Elections, 2d ed., Boston, 1888, will be found useful.  See also Lawton’s American Caucus System, N.Y., 1885.  On the general subject of civil service reform, see Eaton’s Civil Service in Great Britain:  a History of Abuses and Reforms, and their Bearing upon American Politics, N.Y., 1880.  Comstock’s Civil Service in the United States, N.Y., 1885, is a catalogue of offices, with full account of civil service rules, examinations, specimens of examination papers, etc.; also some of the state rules, as in New York, Massachusetts, etc.

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