New-York tribune., 1874-11-17
NE'T PUBLICATIONS.
D ..Ms's DEMOCRACY AND MONARCHY IN


pJRE' Nv CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS l2mo pp' |
644. Henry Holt & co.
of American literature 20 the modern schooi OIL inc
,h;losorbv of history which regards the develop
80, a. ovepts "a an organic whole, OF which Tue
Se;t,be sequences related to each other IN tne
law AZ cause aud effect, rather than huduled ana
banned in pytniscuous tissue OF accieen's w''h-
ont connection aud without Significance PROFESSOR
Adams has caSght the spirit of the geneuc eVoiu-
tions as the Germans call it. which prevails IN
political sri social affairs, without Deing en-
tangled in the meshes OF bind iatality, OF over
looking tbe force of human passion and personal
,nerov He believes that the national character OF
,very people has its roots in the past growing ont
NJ the ideas and habits of previous centuries just as
the vegetation of to-day receives its nOurlshment
from the decayng remains of preceding life. In his
views of the of human progress he inchnest 10
encouragement rather than to enthusiasm. lie
rherishes visionary hopes OF an Immediate future
which shall throw into the shade the achievements
of the present Free from the audacty OF sangulne
faith he recognizes the conditions OF the possioie
attainment of excellence. His tone OF mind Is emil
pently temperate and conservative. lie sees no
prospect of the restoration of prosperity IN france
but in the destruction of the revolutionary spii1t
Until that is accomplished, every effort for the es-
tablishment of liberty is likely to result IN anarchy
and anarchy is worse than tyranny.
The revolutionary spirit as defined by Professor
Adams is the claim of the ignorant and the pas
sonate to sit in judgment on every act OF the gov
ernment Such q claim is injurious just In proper
ton TO its strength. As rule ignorance especially
when stimulated by passion chafes under restraint,
and endeavors to resist it. But DO government can
long exist without imposing restraint upon its sub
iects Hence every good government is more OF
less unpopular, whenever it becomes necessary TO
~, xuhOsa
is inAamed by passion. The best of rulers have
often been the least beloved. while some Of the
worst have been most popular. This is due to the
fact that in turbulent times good government means
restraint, while bad government means anarchy.
Hence in every nation, whenever the revolutionary
nirit is strong, every government that is worthy
the name of government will be more or less un-
popular.
Now tits to be remarked that since the Great
Revolution, the spirit of the leading minds in
France has been one of chronic discomfort. When
ever the nation has republican form of govern
ment there is large faction which prefers mon
nrchy, and is ready to overthrow the republic
Whenever in turn royalty assumes the rule there is
an equally powerful faction resolved upon its over
throw. The new government is popular for time,
but if it has any element of stability 1t soon grows
out of favor, and passionate admiration gives way
TO equally passionate execration Since 1889 France
has thus had ten or twelve different governments,
all Of which were usuTpatons. Once in seven or
eight years upon average tho established au-
thority has been overthrOwn by violence and new
government installed in its place. This in its turn
was to be destroyed by the very hand by which it
was created. No history has been so variable, but
its very variety has been mOnotonous.
Such tendency is of course destructive of all
healthy national growth. nation that is always
changing its policy loses its personality. But France
has followed this course with runous perseverance.
Ii seems to have been her highest ambition to forget
the past and 10 reconstruct the Government anew.
She has neglected the continuity of political method
which Is essential to national personality and which
can only resultfro organic growth. This tendency
20 revolution is the most important fact in the
modern history of France.
In one respect France and Prussia present
favorable contrast to this country. They both de-
Inand a thorough training before man is regarded
as fit for the business of life But. arms the author
America, compared with the larger European
nations. has few men of hieh culture When diff
cult problems of state TO be solved, they are
liable to fall into the hands of men who, to say the
least have claim to very profound respect
Another tendency among us of evil presage, IS
the desire to rush prematurey into the active and
responsible work of life. This arises from the
low standard of American popular education.
So long as men of inferior culture find easy access
to the highest political stations in the gift of
eiety they will be most eagerly sought by political
charlatans II such men could be made TO learn
that for them there is no high place of political
honor, the preparation of those who aspire to pO-
ltical life would be satisfactory. The effect
of thorough intellectual discipline is illustrated by
the example of Germany.
In no country these good results been 80 con-
tpicuOus IN Germany They now show themselves
The fruit OF very long continued policy ana are not
riety that the professional men OF Germany in all post
great scholars and powerful thinkers. There
are fields OF knowledge which they are not among
the first to explore; no nights OF speculation which
they do not penetrate: no hard problem which
faithfully toll. Tier keeuncSs is equal to
thorough ouly exceeded by their hatred OF what is
sham aud Sliush0d. Ii the universities tncif attain
coun.rcs, II indeed they do not ii them with despair
The devotion 10 the work In hand Is equally remark;
able whether tey dedicate their energies othe geneal-
ogy OF words, or the encmiccl anayss OF hxed stars
In tire whole Of liberal culture. II would. perhaps,
not be to name single branch OF study In the
pTCsCc1ton cf which there might rot be founc some
German Who 10y The general consent OF hs profession,
would Ire regarded as the foremost authority of III.
tue. Prof. Seeley, OF the University Of Cambridge,
admitted ana expressed It all sweepiugy said
" A. rule. gQ0d books are ~ Gcrpap."
France, on the contrary has been falling behind
hand for a long series of years. Tie great of
the French people for more than forty years before
the reign of Louis Philippe had educational
privileges whatever and gradually lost their intel
tectua appettes. At the present time while all the
other nations Of Europe have been making great
advances towards more light and more culture,
France has been actually roceding into intellectual
darkness. Thirty per cent of all her male inhabt-
ants are unable to read, while universal suffrage is
too firmly established for its expediency to DO dis
cussed. In view OF these facts, the author under
H.. ..I,.n, ooft yxl,t..,