The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-03

created considerable havoc in the old be-
liefs But II We only reflect that this
great writer and the philosophers OF mis-
school, have simply put into practice the
abstract rationalism or Descartes. we are
forced 10 recognize that France was a long
time before giving way 10 the revolution
airy spirit Of modern times, and that she
respected Christian unity longer than Ger
many and England. which had been torn
up since the sixteenth century BIZ their
various Protestant sects. Moreover, il is
France. who in the age or blind faith
guided Europe to the conquest Of the
tomb OF our Saviour, and, up 10 this day
she sewers herself only with hesitation
from the theOcracy which she has upheld
during so many centuries.
In political matters nckleness IS a com
plant as untenable as the one to which
we have just rendered justice More than
a century after England. revolutionized
by Professionalism, had decapitated its old
monarchy in the person OF Charles T..
France retained hers and endured the
regime Of the courtiers and the infamous
manipulators who fattenei on its main
tenance.
Is II the great revolution which Is ad-
vanced as q proof OF Frances Versatility2
Does not this terrible fight of the new
tendencies against the ancient dogmas
demonstrate. on he contrary. how dill
Of system? What also must We think Of
the various attempts 20 restore the mon
archy which have been made during our
century, unless II be that they are an
evidence of the attachment which a too
large number of her sons have for the
politics of the past? Taking all this into
Consideration, we are more disposed to
complain OF the spirit OF routine of the ma
ton than to tax her with frvolity.
Her philosophical genius, as manifested
by her great thinkers. has discovered the
radical error of all mOnarchies as well
as that of all theocracies.
Without stopping al the middle phase
Of constitutional rule and Professionalism.
she went in straight for the republic as
the only form of government compatible
with the rights Of man, and for rational
ism as the religion worthy of rea-
son. 1t is true that the distance between
the old regime and the new is very great.
il is true that in order to cross II, the
cumbersome baggage Of old Ideas must be
abandoned. This can be done without
leVity without caprice, not with a ridicu-
lous infauation for what is new. but for
the love OF truth and the sincere desire
TO assure the triumph Of justice and OF
liberty. This is what France is now doing.
IT, TO superficial minds, she appears to be
more tickle and more versatile than other
nations, her detractors do not imagine
that with the friyolity Of their Judgment
is mixed the crime Of ingrattude. II
France is really given up to the torrents
Of perpetual fluctuations, If her life is
composed of an alienation Of successes
and reverses, if she surprises the world
by such diverse and Unforeseen aspects,
it is because the springs of moral prog
ress are to be found in her; it is because
her soil is the field Of all the experiments
of thought; 1t is because She seeks, eN-
plores, risks, suffers and fights for the
welfare of the whole human race.
Prof. Antoine Muzzarelli.