The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-16
Evils Of Society and Government Leading to
Liberty and Enlightenment.
RELIGIOUS TYRANNY.
THE CHURCH CRAsPNG THR PROPERTY OF THE NATION
Royal Pleasures at Versailles Hasten the Period
Of Universal Disorder.

ature. He now comes before the public the author
Of the most important work on France which has
appeared since the publication Of Dc Tocquevile's
"LAnccn Regime ct la Revolution IL Is critical study
OF tho period when tho end Of tho last century, like
mouting insect, France underwent metamorphosis;
and tho authors object to discover by this nspcc
ton of the past, the social and political mould best
suited to tho nation. Ho starts from the principle
that "a people, being consulted, may. indeed,
tell the form Of government they like but not tho
form they need this is possible only through expert
ence; time is required to ascertain II the political
dwelling is convenient durable proof against nclem-
encics suited to The occupants habits, pursuits char
acter pcculiartcs and caprces" In proof Of this he
cites tho fact that the French have been content
with their political structure; within eighty years
they have pulled down thirteen times In order to
build 1t, and this they have done in vain, nat having
yet found that suits Thorn. Hence NJ Tame
cludes that the s'socia and political mould into which
nation may enter and remain is not subject TO Its
WILL but determined by its character and Its past II
is essential that, even In its least traits should be
shaped the living traits to which II Is applied;
otherwise It will burst and fall to picccs.n If tho
French succeed In finding thcirs It will be only
| through study Of themselves To understand co.,
| temporary Franco must know how France was
| formed; and NJ Tainc enables his readers to be-
| come rs It werc spectators OF tho tragic scenes
l
the substituted for the old. In tho organi-
cation which Franco effected for herself tho begin
Of the century all the general lines OF her
temporary history wcro traced-political revolutions,
social Uopias division of classes, policy oftho Church.
conduct OF the nobility OF the c0mmonalty and OF the
people, the development tho direction deviation Of
philosophy, Of letters and of the arts Hence when
wish to understand present condition at
tenton always reverts to tho terrible and fruitful
! Revolution aud the Revolution the regime"
These three conditions NJ Taine describes with oil
tho brliancy and vgor which characterize his pre-
vious works. The volume ID divided into five books
"Thc Structure OF Society,"" 'Habits and Charac-
tcrs" 1.-THE Spirit and the Doctrine" "The Propaea-
tion OF the Doctrine" and "Thc People" In the nrst
book tho author traces tho structure Of society from
medieval times down the period of tho Revolution,
when three classes Of pcrsonsthe clergy, the mobiles
and the kng-still occupied the most prominent posi-
ton in the stato and the they bore in constructing
tho foundations Of modern society is described with
grcpt force and eoqucncc or these foundations tho
most ancient and deepest the work OF the clergy.
During the first four centuries they constituted re-
| ligon and the Church. In q society founded
| quest bard aud cold like machine OF brass forced by
its very structure to destroy among Its subjects all
courage and all desire 70 live, they had pro-
claimed tho glad tidings held forth tho kingdom OF
God preached loving resignation In she hands Of q
Heavenly Father, inspired patience, gencness, hu-
mily, self abnegation aud charity, and opened tho
only issues by which sitting in the Roman ereas-
fuium could again brcaths and dayght-and this
Is religion" Again. Tin state gradually undergoing
depopulaton, crumbing away, and fatally becoming q
prey, they had formed living society governed by
laws and discipline, raying around q common object
and common doctrine, sustained by the devotion OF
chiefs by the obedience Of believers alone capable
OF srbssing beneath the food Of barbarans which tho
Empire In ruin suffered pour through It's breaches
and this is the Church..
But for these forces and influences Europe might
have remained In barbarism. The clergy tanned tho
wild brucs who ruled II "Bcfore the bishop In his
gilded Cope says N. Tame, 'bcfore the monk, ENACT
ated, clad in skins, wan drticr and spotted than
chameleon, the converted German stood fearstrckcn
as before sorcercr In his calm moments, after the
chase or nebriety the vague divinaton Of mysteri-
GUS and grandosc future, the dim conception OF
known tribunal tho rudimcnt Of which ho
already had in his forests beyond the Rhine in
him through sudden alarms hali.formed, menacing
visions At the moment OF violating a sanctuary he
asks himself whether he may not fall on It's threshold
with vertigo and broken neck. Thus, over
the whole territory tho clergy maintain and enlarge It's
asylunrs for tho oppressed and the vanquishcd. On
the other hand among the warrior chiefs with long
bishop and abbot with shaver brows take seats In the
assemblies; they alone know how to the pen and
how to discuss Secretaries, councillors theologans,
they participate all cdics; they have their hand in
the government they strive through It's agency to
bring little order out OF immense diserdcr TO render
tho law rational and more humane, to re-cstab-
lish preserve pcty instruction, justice property,
and especially marriage To their ascendancy Is GER
taIny duo tho police system, such rs II was, ncrmit
tent and incomplete, which prevented Europe from
falling into Monaghan anarchy"
Thus tho clergy lay the FIRST foundation OF social
order the second is tho work Of the mobiles, the mill
tary chcans OF the tenth century, under whose rude
iron gfovcd rule the common people enjoyed proec-
ton Society longer prey TO strangers or In
danger OF overthrow by nomadc invasionA Tho pea
SAINT longer be slaughtered longer TO be led
captive with his family, In herds, with his neck in
pilchfork. He ventures TO plough and 70 SOW aud 10
rely upon his crops in OF danger he knows that
no can find asylum for himself and for his grain
and cattle in the circle Of palisades at the base OF the
fortress BY degrees necessity establishes tact con-
tract between the military chieftan Of the donjon and
the carly settlers OF tho open country and this DO.
comes a recognized custom. They work for him, cu
tva,c his ground do mis- carting pay him quittsrces
much for house, SO much per head for cattle, 90
much inherit 10 SELL he Is compelled to support
his troop The picture OF course, has It's dark shades
Those who seek the protection Of the strong chcfta'n
become his scrfs his morimains; Wherever 'ney
may 20 he Is to have the right Of fetching them back
and from father to son they his born domessics,
assignabe to any pursuit be pcsscs, taxable and
workable at his discretion and not allowed 10 transmit
anything to child, unless tho latter. "living from
their pon can after their death, continue their SER
vice. sNot 10 DO killed, says scndhai "and to have
good shsepskn coat in winter, was, f-r many people
| a. sncsh centurv tho hoiuht Of folkctv.U But
when wo clearly represent 10 ourselves the condition
or humanity In those days We can comprehend how
we're readily accepted the most obnoxious Of feudal
rights oven that OF the droa d. sei0Ns. The risks
10 which they were daily subject were even worse
Tho proof Of u 10 that The people locked 70 the eudA
structure a. soon as u was completed.
In proccsa Of time the amall acgniorIcs 70 be