Russia, without doubt, is the highest type of that despotism so common among Pagan nations. The Czar is the successor of the Gentile Cæsar; he unites in himself the civil and spiritual power; the inevitable result is social oppression, denial of the rights of conscience, of the family, and of the political society. Our government has already made gigantic steps in the same direction. Many of the political minds of this country have been drawn within the circle of _monarchial_ ideas. They are unconsciously, as it were, adopting their forms of thought, and applying their forms of expression to our government, and claiming for it the prerogatives and supremacy appertaining to the feudal institutions of Asia and Europe. Our simple democratic form of government seems to be getting ashamed of its plebeian origin, and ambitious to ape the language and pretensions of its former masters. This decadence was made apparent not long ago, in the discussions "for the removal of the United States Capitol." In a two-hours' discussion, the word "Republic," or "Federal Government," or "United States," was not once mentioned!! It was "_Nation_," "Empire," etc., etc., _usque ad nauseam_, from beginning to end. To a reflecting mind, this language has an ominous significance. It smacks strongly of monarchy. But some one will perhaps say, "Sir, what has all this dissertation to do with your subject? You commence by disclaiming against the _Public School System_, and here you are giving a grave lecture on the nation relapsing into imperialism or monarchy."