, 1874-11-22
FRANCE.

fHAMEt.
DEMOCRACY AND MONARCHY IN FRANCE.
FHoH THE INCEPTION OF THE GnKAr REVOLUTION
TO TIE OVERTHROW or THE SECOND EMP1RE. By
CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS. Professor Of History IN
the UnlTer11tJ Of Michigan. LIMO, pp+ b44. Now
York: Henry Holt Co.
/ For nearly century past France has presented
Al amazing and melancholy spectacle to the
civilized world. Tho scenes in kaleidoscope
shifts with scarcely more celebrity and unexpect-
edness than have the forms OF Government in
her political arena A Monarchy, Democracy,
an Ochlocracy, Republic, Despotism, an En-
perorship, have repeatedly followed each other
With swftness and completeness that have
ob1terated, in avery instance, nearly every trace
Of the vanquished and Eeceding power. In the
eighty~odd years since the outbreak of the Great
Revolution, the nation has been ruled BY fifteen
distinct administrations. The spirit Of revolu-
tion has possessed the people, ind, as il insane
or intoxicated. they have overturned with reck-
less fury, one after another OF tho diverse sys-
tems OF Government that they have SUCCESS
lively instituted. To tear down, to destroy. the
existing power, vhatever it may be. has been
their passion. and they have indulged it without
control or calculation.
This chronic discomfort, this incessant rest~
leasness aud thirBt for change, have composed =
eociAl problem which has hitherto bafled solu-
ton. What are the elements In the Freach
character that oppose themselves 80 resolutely
to order and stability? What train Of causes
has, in the course of oonsuries, created this
fevoriek, tickle condition Of mind, that vents
itself in perpetual revolt against authority and
law7 These questions hare been tho subject OF
searching study, and light has been thrown upon
many Of their features; but no writer within
our acquaintance has succeeded in rendering al
their points SO luminous rs the oue wnosa book
IN now before us.
The Englishman, the German, the Frenchman,
are equally untitled by national prejudices for
bro.d and impartial review Of the career OF
France during the last hundred years. 4 deep
and abiding antagonism disqualifes the first two
for right understanding OF the facts in the
case; while the distorted vision, which makes 1t
impossible to guide bis political destiny Alright,
effectutlly disables the last. Clearly, in point
OF nationality, the American has the advantage
In an attempt to resolve the enigma which mod
esn French history presents. And, Of American
writer's, we know Of nouo better adapted for
the work. by Temperament, intellect, and
scholarship, than Prof. Adams. He has
heretofore shown his capacity in = couple
Of papezs dealing with certain phases Of the po-
likica1 situation in France which were published
in the North american Rerte.b. Competent
ctitica read them with tho conviction that the
author was one who from commanding posi-
ton, surveyed the scene8 and the figures in the
turbulent PANORAMA Of France. Tho essays in
the present volume, distinct and yet cohering ia
compact narrative. and covering the entire
period since tbs Revolution OF 1888, confirm the
belief that, In Prof. Adams, Franco has found
moat able interpreter. Calm and judicial in
Judgment, acute in analysis comprehensive in
perception, and aboundin9 in knowlege. he de-
tects the reoklessness and tho errors in her char
actar and conduct, and, following them back
ward to their origin, reveals CAUSES and conse-
quences In Al atmosphere Of angular trans
pA1ency.
The opening chapter Of the book, on "The
Philosophers OF the Revolution" contains the
whole explanation Of the mystery OF France.
Did it stand by itself, it would furnish \ sAtis-
factory translation Of tho most obscure and
pazzling passages IN her recent political career.
The ignorance Of the masses and the Atheism
Of the upper classes are the two prime evils that
have led to the degeneraoy, the anarchy, and the
final downfall. of the country From the reign
Of Charles VII, in 14G1, to the accession OF
Louis XIV, in l643, the internal condition Of
France was ono Of perpetual warfare between
the aristooracy and the Sovereign. Riche1ieu
in crushing the mobiles, and centering
the governing power in the King; and thence
forth there were hut two orders in the nation,-
tho Royal, the titled tho clerical, on the one
hand, and the common people, On the other ;the
rich, the courtly, the elegant, over against tho
poor, the lliterate, aud the vulgar and the gulf
between the Two gaping wider every day. The
we're, in the age Of Louis XIV. and
Louis XV., in reality extinct, and the burden Of
supporting the privileged classos in their idle |
ness and luxury rested directly upon the lower !
:lasses. bowipg them down 10 the dust When |
Louis XVI. came to his inheritance, tha peas- |
sntry we're starving On miserable diet Of bread |
md cruel. The cruel wrongs OF the eighteenth |
century had reduced them to the depths Of pov-
arty and despair, and they were ready, like fam
shed wolves,-or worse, like famished and fren- |
ied men,-to turn upon their oppressors and |
,end them.
While the great mass OF the French people |
we're thus being enslaved and embruted, the |
higher orders were becoming emasculated and
corrupt through system Of philosophy which !
Tas founded by Helvetius and carried to its |
elimination by Rousseau Beginning with the |
luthor first mentioned, and continuing with |
3ondlllao, Voltaira, and Jean Jacques, we hsvo |
series Of writer's whose influence on the morals
md the fate cf their countrymen cannot bs !
" ,verestimatsd. To the methods Of reasoning |
Th1ch, BY the power Of genius, they rendered |
popular. may be ascribed the unbe-
ieving, mocking. dippsnt, and sensual character
" the French mind.
The doctrines Of Helvetius taught thst man ts
mt superior animal, owing to his advantage
,Ter the wild beasts to physical circumstances,
leriying his pleasures from the sensiblties. and
hiding his highest virtues in the qualification OF
1is appetites and PASSIONS. As on his surround
ngs depend all al that he is or can have, 1t fol-
ONE that. II they do not favor bis desires, it
hou1d be his effort to change them, regardless
Il any idea Of sacredness that may investthem.
This Was the very Gospel Of Atheism and Rev
luton. sud France embraced It with kind Of
ury.' After Helvetius, Condillac promulgated
system Of metaphysics iDculeating that all
aeas are the products OF sensation; hence. that
morality consists in obedience to tho demands
nd suggestions that arise from contact with OBJ