The absence of a course of instruction in the History of Political Theories forms a serious gap in the curriculum at Harvard. As has been shown by the article in these columns describing the several schools of Political Science, there is exactly such a course at Michigan University, at Columbia, and at Johns Hopkins. If one has time to read at length in the original Greek the Republic of Plato in Greek, and can take Philosophy 5, in which, among other things, Locke's theories of government are expounded, one can gain some knowledge of this subject, but only to a narrow extent and at a disproportionate outlay of time and labor. A pressing need at Harvard, therefore, is that a special course should be given by either the department of Philosophy or of the Political Sciences, which shall present a critical and historical exposition of the political theories of Plato and Aristotle among the Greeks, of Cicero's "Republic," of the early doctrine of the Church as expounded by St. Augustine and by Thomas Aquinas, of Dante and Machiavelli, of Grotius, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Spinoza, Locke and Hobbs, and the more modern theories of such writers as Hegel, Lieber, Humboldt, Bluntschli, Waitz, Spencer, Bagehot and Mulford, with perhaps an exposition of the views of the Fathers of the American Revolution-particularly Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison.

The interest in the general subject of political philosophy among Americans, has always been of the liveliest sort. It is undeniable, however, that there is, in proportion to this interest, a noticeably small amount of definite knowledge and hence of definite thinking on this subject among both the great public, and among men of broad education. In a practical way, instruction in the actual status of political systems is fairly adequate in this country. Just as in England, it has been said, interest attaches more to the history of the English constitution as a growing political system, so in the United States, interest attaches to the history and interpretation of the constitution as positive law. But scientific knowledge of the philosophy of politics has with us been little sought after. But this knowledge of theory is necessary for a rational understanding of existing systems, particularly of our own, which was a combination not only of the essential elements of the English system, but also largely a result of the political theorizing of the French and American writers of the middle part of the last century. It is incumbent on Harvard to provide this instruction.