The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26
II.

hb tho Lc0Euo.
From what classes OF the population were
the Huguenots drawn? This question is
answered satisfactorily In the book before us.
Mr.. NilIert perceives that in France as else
where. the Calvinists were at bottom the op-
ponents Of despotism and the champions OF
popular government That some historians
should have failed to see this can only be ex-
planned by the accident that the prince Henry
OF NavarreL whom the Huguenots eventually
recognized as their leader happened to be
the claimant OF the throne by hereditary
right. so that his and their enemies naturally
appealed to the elective and popular theory OF
sovereignty. while their alliance with tho pop
ulace Of the big towns gave O spurious air Of
democracy to the defenders of the Papacy and
clients OF the Spanish tyrant. That the DO
litical tendencies OF the HuRuenots were es-
sentialy liberal and progressive was conclu-
sively proved in the States General Of 1851.
where they and tho Moderate party. which IA
vored federation, were predominant, The
States General Of 1861 would. II they could
have had their way. not only have established
federation. but have sold the property OF the
Church for the benefit OF the King and nation,
and reformed religion In accordance with tho
Word OF God. as interpreted by q national
council In which both the clergy and repre-
sentative laymen should sit They would also
have limited the royal prerogative by periodi-
cal meetings OF tho representatives Of the M
ton; they would have diminished the privi-
leges Of the mobiles, and hey would have sub
stituted an elective magistracy for one which.
owing to the sale OF offices. was rapidly be-
coming hereditary, Mr.. Willert truly says
that. in theremarkable demands OF the States
General OF 1851. We may contem plate a re-
ffri nd aaI
which all that Henry ". was able to accom-
plish sinks into insignihcance. The comment
is lust, however. that what Henry attempted
was possible. whereas the scheme OF the re-
formers OF 1861 was outside tho range of
practical politics. Changes so great could only
have been effected by an overwhelming tide OF
public opinion or by an energetic minority
controlling the machinery OF government
The States-General were not supported by
pu0lic opinion. and many OF the measures
they proposed excited the violent opposition
OF all constituted authorities. Coligny him
self. prominent as he was in character. abil-
ity, and position. failed to sec that a reformed
Church was possible only In a reformed State.
We're the French Huguenots right or wrong
as a matter Of policy In dlsreRarding tho per-
sistent injunctions of Calvin to bear perse-
cution meskly2 1t IL Mr.. Wilerts belief
that they had no alternative TO an appeal
to tho sword. No doubt. some writer's.
both at the time and since. have main
tanned that II the Huguenots had con-
tinued to submit to persecution with the
same patience as they had In the past. their
doctrines would have continued to spread.
The sight OF their sufferlngs and OF their vir-
tues would, It Is said. have converted the less
fanatical OF their opponents and perhaps soft
ened the hearts OF even the most cruel 1t Is
u ndeniable that tho number OF Protestants in
France diminished after the first civil war,
and the inference has been drawn that but for
the war the diminution would not have oc-
Cured. 1t is pointed out. on the other hand
by the author OF the book before us. that the
Great Hound. as the Catholics called the IA
nattcRl mob had been let slip. and that before
the outbreak of hostilities the Protestants OF
the middle classes were being mAssaered or
robbed. and driven into exile by their ortho- !
dox neighbors. AS matter OF fact
there were more victims In 1852 than |
there were ten years later In the year
Of the massacre OF st. Bartholomew. |
The Catholics OF Toulouse. for instance sup !
ported by the provincial Parliament mas
sacred or drove into exile 1900 heTetcs. and /
the Parliament OF AK began the work Of OK
tirpatlon BY sentencing 300 heretics TO the 1
names. soon the nobility would have Jared no
better and even the princely leaders them
7oANNos nav hhSS not lhkou Up arms "Ne+N
have been sacrificed TO the Jealous ambition.
eloaked bJ religious zeal. of the Gulses aud
their allies In word. no patient endurance
On the part OF the Huguenots would have dis
armed their prosecutors TheJ had to hight
We can now see that when once they
had draEn the sword. all chance OF france be-
coming Protestant country II any chance
here ever Was. disappeared. The huFusnots
we're too small minority 10 impose their faith
on a majority. whose fanAtieism and zeal were
nlamed By the struggle
IIL
Historians have expressed widely different
opinions regarding the character OF Henry
~. ana there was undoubtedly much In his
conduct which nobody would dream Of defend
nE. The judgment pronounced by Mr. Willsrt
: discriminating and fair He begins By sD-
7lying the decisive TAFT. namely, the impress