The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-29

ner as the glories of those cities of Asiatic
splendor which have LETT only the brilliant
memory Of name.
DEVELOPMENT OF POPULAR RIGHTS UNDER MON.
ARCHICAL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.
During the gradual evolution of the variou;
governments of Europe the influence of the
Catholic church was predominant.
Ii that influence was despotic in its ten
dency we would find the evidences OF it in the
lack OF restraint imposed upon the SOW ereign
power in the various countries. But every.
where we find that monarchs were restrained
by obligations to rule consistently with reason
and justice.
In Germany q form of limited monarchy
prevailed. The Emperors shared legislative
authority with the Diet, composed of the
Princes of provincial states; and these in turn
had their own provincial states, composed o.
their feudal vassals and their mediate towns
within their territory in which they managed
their own local affairs. Taxes could not be i'm.
posed without the consent of the states. We
lind that various German cities enjoyed cleo
tive privileges in the selection OF municipal
officers. The Diet OF Frankfort in 1874 was
made up OF electors, Princes and deputies rep
resenting cities.
In Spain we find that in the kingdom o.
ATagon the soyereigns were elected by the
Barons; ana no King could assume sway until
he had sworn to observe the laws and liberties
of the realm.
And what do we find in England as to the
development OF liberty during the period OF
Catholic ascendncy? We find that popular
rights had healthy growth. The constitu'
OF liberties, laid down clearly within the
bounds OF a written constitution. Its exist
ence is not reekoned from certain date. But
there is one event of paramount importance
in the constitutional development of British
liberty, and that is the grant of the great char
ter OF Liberties made by King John to his
Barons on the plains OF Runuymede in the
year 1918. That charter is the essential
groundwork on which is reared the super
structure of British civil liberty. II gave q sa
credness and inviolability 20 rights Of property
They were Catholic barons who gathered or
the banks of the Thames TO demand the recog
milton OF this principle of equal distribution
OF civil rights to all classes. Foremost among
those men clamoring in the cause OF human
liberty stood Stephen Langton, the Catholic
Archbishop OF Canterbury, and he was the frs
TO set his name as a witness to the charter
which was there attested.
CATHOLIC REPUBLICS.
And during these ages, which witnessed the
curtallment OF deSpotic power, we find thai
popular forms OF governments took root and
The government which without change has
stood the severest test of time was a republic
founded by monk as early as the fourth cen
fury. Radical IN Its democracy, free as the
mountain air of the Apprentices, in which il
gloried, the very slightest exercise of papal
power would have been sufficient at any time
Tor centuries to dissipate the little republic o1
san Mar1no, and yet 1t has hourished for fifteen
centuries.
Another republic of great antiquity we find
III LIS HcdIL OI Inc FyreneeS. FRAMED us
dependence by Charlemagne and largely
under church influence ever since, the repub-
lie OF Andorra has elected its presidents and
legislative councils with the same regularity
with which we Americans indulge in similar
Injuries.
Not only on the mountain sides do we find
the development of republican ideas. Away
down by the sun1t sea, Dasking beneath the
mild Italian skies and famed by the gentle
breezes OF the Adriatic, the islanders OF Venice
treasured alike their Catholicity and their lib
erty.
Thus far have endeavored to show by facts
gathered from the varied history OF European
countries that during the time of the exclusive
ascendency OF the Catholic church there was a
STEADY, healthy development OF popular con-
troi over despotic power in monarchical coun-
tries, ana that IN countries most Immediately
In contact with the Roman Pontih there was a
widespread and deep-rooted devotion, not only
70 republican principles, but also 10 repub-
ncan forms OF government
Did the Reformation, as one of It's conse-
quences, bring about an immediate advance OF
popular rights History says no. In England
the relgns OF Henry VIII and Elizabeth afford
instances OF the most CALLING despotism. The
tyranny exercised by these monarchs under
their dual authority as head of the church
and head OF the state was none the less abb
horrent because exercised under popular
forms.
In Germany, in Sweden, in Denmark and in
nearly every European country despotic power
was Increased.
Guizot, a recognized Protestant authority,
asserts that the emancipation OF the human