New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-08

wars OF the period. It's inevitable eHeC' wa"
strengthen the royast tendencies OF the age.
There was an important element in the lie Oh
the time which would have made for universal
European unity. 1t has been said that '"e u
ysrs,t,e. created a republic Of letters above me
hostile camps which divided the civilized "o''u
The revival O. learning made this republic
reality, but It was not strong enough to overcome
the forces Of disintegraton. 1t welcomed mon
orchv as the nearest approach 10 rs ideal bu'
the most significant fact OF the times Is mat '"e
special patron OF the new learning al the ou''''
was an Italian banker. sovereign as sovere'shS
went IN Italy. but stu a man Of business. 10
renzo de Medici. rather than any greater ruiet %
IN. fifteenth century stands at the head OK ne
modern era: but when his impulses were car''eu
out on great scale by his son. Leo ~ 'he'
proyed causes Of DISCRIMINATION. The cosby
tastes IN learning and art OF this Pope proVoheo
the Reformation The fondest hope OF the Miuo'e
Ages. expressed in the formula. lone God one EN-
pire one Church." was destroyed by the only man
who could do anything for ia realization. Inc
division OF the Church intensified the neeu o'
monarchy for the simple reason that 1t strength
ened the feelings Of national rivalry. The Pope
who had been the arbiter Of Christendom. became
only n king among kings. His only consolation
was that though he lost Chrstendom. he gained
in authority over the faithfu-a poor consolation
TO a monarch who had political aspirations lie
saw powers which he had welded assumed oy
the Protestant kings OF northern Europe But
this addition OF spiritual authority to the attlo-
utes OF royalty has proved valuable In proportion
to the rarity with which It was exercised IL
helped to bring Charles to the block ana us
tendency was under Louis XIV to bring ABOUT
the state OF things which ended in the total de-
10 ha nd
Duruy says. the traditional policy OF France. that
OF Francis l. OF Henry II. OF Henry ~ and ot
Richelieu; he repudiated the Protestant Alliance;
he exhausted his kingdom to dominate Europe IN
the name Of his dynasty. which he rendered
,surping and IN the name of Catholicism. when
he rendered prosecuting; and he descended to the
tomb as sad as the mighty vanquished OF the
preceding age dscrowned of his glory with the
grief of seeing new stars climb the horizon which
eclipsed his own ITO Louis XIV Is due the great
ness OF Prussia and England" The direct result
Of his policy was 10 expe from France one or
the thriftlest elements OF Its population and 10
deprive the nation Of Canada and of the hopes
which II had cherished OF ruling 1indostan. Both
fell to England. and Hindostan has proved mine
OF wealth. while the colonies from when Engiahu
hoped most at that time were lost to her forever
1t Is curious to observe that their loss was due 10
a policy Of absolutism which had long ceased TO
be possible among the English at home Inc
Colonies" says NJ. Duruy. speaking OF the rise OF
the United States. had at first full commercial
liberty. This withdrawn by Cromwell. S'hi
they never conformed except imperiectly 10 re-
strctive laws. Especially was this true OF Massa-
cbusetts the most nourishing OF all. which re-
plied TO the representatives OF Charles II: The
king can enlarge our liberties bu, has no author
ity 10 diminish them At that moment the
Stuarts were making most earnest efforts to
build up absolute power: they established IL IN
the Colonies. Massachusetts lost her charter;
II was restored by the revolution OF l6S.' Thus
we see that so far as England was concerned
absolute power was in conflict with the business
instincts OF the people. II cannot be SAID that
this was the case with France. IL required an
agitation far removed from the necessities OF
commerce TO overthrow the old monarchy. The
forces let loose by the Reformation Joined with
those evoked by learning TO produce the condi-
tions out OF which arose the French Revolution.
So completely the tendencies o. the times
disguised that the most potent agitators in behalf
OF the explosive ideas Of the encyclopedias were
the very princes whom these ideas We're destined
70 destroy France seemed TO have forgotten the
rnIserles r.hch she had suffered under Louis XIV
She remembered on.y his many victories her own
defiant attitude toward Europe and her actual
supremacy during a period OF twenty years. Even
(, she remembered her losses. she was conscious
that she had gained In influence more than she
had lost in politics and war. Nations no longer
submissive to her arms yielded obedience TO her
in the realm OF thought They spoke her Ian
1uaRe read her books and initiated her manners
Voltaire doubtless cared little as Louis XIV
for the loss OF Canada II mattered not to the
philosophers in Paris that Poland was dis!ne'n-
bered or that the Russian threatened the balance
OF power by attempts on Constantinope. Ihey
had another task than to be anxious for the fate
OF a province even Of empire They sought
for man. believed they had found him. and meant
10 make OF him citizen. They studied society.
believed II il-built and desired It's reconstruction
There was a civilization to recast. For workm"n
80 ardently employed at such task what mat
tered the sound Of stone which was detached
from the old edince and fell?" With light hearts
the monarchs Of the world tried reformation In
accordance with the views OF the philosophers
They only poured oil the flames. The reform
was one which had to come from beneath. But
after all does there not seem to be In this some
thing OF that spirit OF knight-errantry with which
the French monarchy started and from which 1t
never escaped?