New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-23
LOUIS THE FIFTEENTH.
AN INSTANCE OF THE UTILITY OF USE
LEsSNEss IN A KING.

DID. Kill 4& HoOgntON, AliiiiiH q W.
Mr.. Perkins, admirable volumes raise indi-
rectly a question difficult to answer LOUIS
XIV had responsibilities both as man ana as
a King. The natural inference is that IL ne
had been a better man he would have oeeh d
more worthy King, that his reign would IN th"'
case have been more beneficial TO France IMAM
II was. and II more beneficial for France. theii
so much the more advantageous to the WORM
in general But he is said to have had MS VIZ
fects as a husband. as father as sehei"'
as ruler. These defects completely overshaoo"
all the other traits of his character. YET WIFI
out him. the process by which France pecaiii.
what il is would have been long delayed II not
,,ho,,v prevented. Worse still, If he had been
q good man and wise King. he might have put
or renpb,,can,su in France and nationalism In
Germany for an indefinite period Such is the
historical dilemma offered by this Bourbon
King. The world is better off at this moment
because he was thoroughly bad than 1t would
he ~ he had been a model Of all the virtues.
The ease stood thus Louis XIV received from
Louis XIV and the Regency kingdom when
was accustomed TO the rule Of an absolute
monarch. The mobiles had been subdued. The
differences IN religion had been adjusted. In
.nite ~ all burdens-and these were many
France increased in wealth by leaps and bounds
,vbenever the people had time for their own
affairs They felt the weight OF taxation. but
thew had not begun Systematically TO search
for proofs of injustice. They looked to the
King in good faith for law and administration
and Justice And tradition had created so much
~ the King that the human being on the
throne was the smallest part OF the semplance
before which the people bowed. All this was
exactly suited to the character of Louis XIV
He had Just the requisite force and ambition
10 keep the figure In which he was enshrined
acting as II 1t were alive. But it was different
when a man by nature cynical took his place
Louis XIV had been watching monarchy in mo-
ton from his earliest observant moment he
had keen intellect and sluggish will But
according to every known principle OF politics
the machine of French royalty ought to go OF
itself II the King was willing TO say occa-
sionally that he meant to rule, no more would
be needed Fortunately in one sense. unfortu-
nately In another, Louis XIV had In the earlier
years Of his reign a Minister who cared nothing
for the name Of an Office. but much for It's ac-
tivties AS King he could still indulge the
fiction Of mastery, while his faithful servant
Fleury looked after everything and kept the
realm in awe. Silent and indifferent acute In
his criticism of plans and acts, but never ven-
turing to interfere with his Cabinet even when
he saw that its proceedings were impolitic or
unwise. the King by sheer inactivity retained
and actually cultivated the affections OF his
subjects, so that a single overt act Of courage
on his part or stroke Of luck In European
affairs caused the whole kingdom to blaze with
loyalty. Louis became King Wel-Beloved and
so remained. though with gradually lessenins
emphasis. until he took up with Nine. du Barry.
It makes one leer sardonically at human nature
to think, after all the King had done. that
little additional mistake like Du Barry should
have been resented so bitterly. But It seems
that there Is some sort Of difference under the
moral law between a street-walker and a
strumpet with coat-of-arms. Those who do
not believe this will DO we'll to read the code
over a second time.
Conceding that the King made all the mis-
takes Of his Ministers his own by rot revers-
ing their policy when he saw that II was I'M
wise. 1t must still be remembered that Louis
XIV had from first to last far more difficult
series Of problems to deal with than fell to the
let Of Louis XIV. The latter assembled the
throne at the moment when the memory Of the
baronial tyranny was fresh. but not more so
than the feeling that the nation owed relief
solely TO the King. With the exception OF Crom-
well, and later William Of Orange, he was the
only capable ruler Of his times During most
of his reign he had the best generals in Europe.
When his enemies got good ones In the persons
Of Marlborough and Eugene, he was uniformly
defeated. But Louis XIV began his reign when
people were just beginning to think that there
might be another kind Of tyranny as bad as
that Of the mobiles He had but one master Of
the science OF war. Marshal Sake, to reckon on,
and SAKE died in enforced retirement long be-
fore the reign was over. Other nations were
better off for leaders than they had been for
generation. The most determined woman and
one Of the most capable who ever wore crown
rose in his time from the throne Of Hungary to
the control Of the Empire. Frederick the Great
welded the army which he had inherited from
his father In Prussia, while in England the
eccentrcities Of royalty were overcome by the
comprehensive genius Of Pitt. None OF these,
neither Maria Theresa nor Frederick nor Pitt
were hampered by any traditions as to the foe
to be fought. But the French Minister'S in spite
OF all warnings began by opposing Austria In
the time Of Charles 1t was the Empire that
was to be dreaded, and SO the earliest advisers
Of Louis XIV held that France must still labor
to weaken a ruler whose time of triumph was
past They may be excused for not seeing that
crisis had come In the affair. Of Germany.
But they were slow to see that Frederick was
new and unconquerabe force in the politics of
Europe. They looked upon him merely as the
son Of his father. and they decided to help
him to defeat Austria In spite of the fact that
they were opposing inhdeity and Professionalism
at home they allied themselves with one who
was Protestant King and an infidel as
a man against Maria Theresa. who Was as good
q Catholic as Louis XIV and as good Christian
IA ir,sa elf Tn
they did what they could to remedy this mis-
take. but II then too late. Prussia had
already entered upon the career which was to
eliminate at Sedan.
Mr.. Perkins shows that In the beginning of this
unfortunate conflict with Austria the French
Ministry. since they could not foresee the future
might safely have allowed tn ,mseves to be
guided by their treaty obligations Louis him
self was keen enough to SEQ what was best 10