War, but the validity of the formation of the new State was not acknowledged by Virginia until after the war closed.

The admission of Arizona and New Mexico as States in the Union left Hawaii as the only organized Territory remaining. Congress makes all the laws for the government of such territory as the District of Alaska, while the President appoints the governor and other officers. Congress also determines the civil rights and political status of the native inhabitants of our Spanish possessions acquired at the close of the war with Spain. Accordingly, a modified form of territorial government has been created for Porto Rico and the Philippines. In each government the majority of the upper house of the Legislature is appointed by the President, while the members of the lower house are chosen by the people. The governors and other important officers are appointed by the President. Representation at Washington is given by resident commissioners who do not, however, have seats in Congress as the Territorial delegates have, although entitled to recognition by the executive departments in Washington. A just and orderly government for the Philippines is a difficult problem on account of the mixed population, ranging from head-hunting savages to highly civilized Spanish-speaking gentlemen.

Under the direction of the President, the Sulu Islands and Guam are governed by military and naval officers respectively. Tutuila is under a governor, and the Isthmian Canal Zone under a Commission, all appointed by the President.

What are the relations of the United States to Cuba? Congress laid down certain principles as a basis for the government of Cuba; the conditions were accepted, and a republic formed, of which General Palma was chosen as the first president. The most important conditions are that Cuba

must make no foreign agreements contrary to the interests of the United States; must not incur large debts; must keep ports relatively free from disease by proper sanitation; and must Icede to the United States certain sites for naval stations. During the past few years the efforts at self-government have not been successful, but the orderly manner in which the general elections of 1908 were conducted has been received as a sign that Cuba is prepared to control her own affairs, and that the political outlook has improved. Three fourths of the registered voters exercised their right of suffrage, and this proportion compares favorably with that in countries more accustomed to self-government. General Gomez, the Liberal candidate, was chosen president of the republic.

Public Lands. Soon after the close of the Revolution, various States ceded to the United States their claims to western lands. From this cession arose the duties of the administration of these public lands, and the organization of new States. It was decided by that body that the lands should be sold and the proceeds devoted to paying the National debt. An Ordinance passed by Congress in 1785 prescribed the manner in which these lands should be surveyed. The general plan outlined in this bill has been carried out in detail by Congress in acts since passed by that body, and is applicable to all unorganized territory which has since come under the control of Congress. This plan for surveying and subdividing National lands was suggested by Thomas Jefferson, and is very simple. Such land is divided into townships six miles square by meridians and parallels of latitude. The meridians or range lines run due north and south, while others called township lines cross them at right angles. Then, by lines one mile apart, each township is divided into thirty-six sections. Each of these sections of land contains one square mile, or six

hundred and forty acres. The sections are numbered from east to west and west to east consecutively, beginning in the northeast corner of the township with No. 1, and ending in the southeast corner with No. 36. Each section is divided into quarter sections and sixteenth sections.

The Ordinance of 1785 set apart and reserved section No. 16 in each township for the maintenance of public schools in that township. As this policy has since been followed in all laws concerning territory acquired by the United States, every State or Territory carved from the public lands has in every township one square mile of land devoted to free education. The title to such land is vested in the State Legislature, and the proceeds from its sale form a permanent school fund, the interest of which is paid to the individual townships for the support of their schools. Since the organization of Oregon Territory in 1848, section No. 36 has also been reserved for the school fund. Thus the schools of each of the newer Western States have a magnificent endowment consisting of the income from one eighteenth of the land of the entire State.

The most famous legislation for the organization of the "Territory Northwest of the Ohio" was the Ordinance of 1787. It provided for the organization of government, and announced sound doctrines of civil liberty. Each citizen was entitled to writ of habeas corpus and trial by jury. No person was to be molested on account of his religious sentiments or his mode of worship. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime, was permitted. The Territory and the States formed from it were to remain forever a part of the United States. The Ordinance stated that since religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary to good government, schools and the means of education should forever be encouraged. It is one of the wisest documents ever

put forth by a deliberative assembly, and had great weight in shaping later organization of Territories. The Ordinance of 1787 was framed by the dying Congress of the Confederation. The glory of this Act of 1787 rests with it to offset its many trials and failures.

Under the Homestead Act of 1862, any citizen of the United States, or a person who has filed the declaration of intention, if over twenty-one years of age, may take up 160 acres of government land, and at the end of five years' residence get a title free of cost. Under the Preëmption Act, the price of government land is $2.50, if it be within the limits of land granted to railroads, or $1.25 if outside those limits. Most of the land, however, which can now be "homesteaded" or bought is barren or practically worthless without irrigation.

Republican Form of Government.-The United States guarantees to every State a republican form of government. The propriety of a power to prevent a State from changing its government to any other than a republican form is evident. As the individual States have surrendered to the United States the right to keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, it is just and right that a State, when invaded by a foreign enemy, or suffering from domestic violence, should be aided and protected by the Federal government (V).

During the great railroad strike in Chicago in 1894, the whole railway business of the region was practically suspended, and the orders of the United States Courts could not be enforced. The city and State governments were unable to keep order, and Governor Altgeld would not call for Federal aid. President Cleveland, however, made use of the only organized force equal to the case, and sent United States troops to prevent the obstruction of the mails and of interstate commerce. The Governor claimed that the President

should have interfered only on request made by him or by the Legislature of Illinois. The decisions of the Supreme Court sustained the action of the President.

How the Constitution May be Amended. Since all the future needs of the people could not be foreseen and provided for, it was anticipated that changes would be found necessary; provision was made, therefore, for the amendment of the Constitution. An amendment must first be proposed, and then ratified. There are two different modes for proposing amendments, and two different modes of ratifying them (W).

An amendment may be proposed by two thirds of both houses of Congress; or by a convention, called by Congress, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the States. The first method is the more direct and simple, and is the one that has always been followed.

Proposed in either of these ways, amendments, to become active parts of the Constitution, must be ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the States, or by conventions in three fourths of the States. Congress determines which of the two ways shall be adopted. The first method is the simpler and more direct, and has always been followed. Thus it has resulted that in the making of the fifteen amendments to the Constitution, all were proposed by Congress and ratified by the State Legislatures. The Supreme Court of the United States has decided that it is not necessary that amendments which have received the two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress should be sent to the President for his approval or disapproval. The Thirteenth Amendment, however, proclaimed in force December 18, 1865, bears such an approval by the President.

The three exceptions to the power of amendment were the