The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-07-27
CIVILIZATION.
No. !.

society should become we'll skilled in local
organization before great organizations
could become a success. In the 18th cen
fury, as if by instinct, Europe began upon
a career of Capitalization.
Nobility and peasantry of France were
animated with patriotism for the defense
of their nation against foreign DONNA
ton. Their borders were enlarged. Thus
the French nation was unified and
strengthened. During the reign of Charles
VII public revenues and standing armies
were increased. This abridged the liberty
of the people but increased the strength
of the nation.
Thus the powers of government super
seeded the powers of feudalism. Much is
said about the depression of the nobility
by Louis XI. but the greatest work of
Louis NJ. was the substitution of persua-
sion or intellectual force for physical
force i'll gaining ascendency over men.
1t was reserved for modern times to in
troduce justice instead of selfshness as
motives. 1t was in the fifteenth century
that Spain was consolidated into one
kingdom. By the conquest of Grenada,
Christians and Moors were united, and by
the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella,
CASTLE and AIagon were united. AS in
France monarchy was supported by sever
Ell Institutions In the middle of the 18th
century the house of Austria came to the
empire of Germany. Elections became
merely a sanction OF hereditary right.
Louis NJ. established the post office in
France MaXimilian established the same
in Germany.
England carried on two great wars in the
fifteenth century, the war with France and
the war of the Roses at home. Resources
were surrendered to the king, the nobility
were ruined, and with the ascension OF
Henry II. the triumph of royalty be-
gins. Patriots OF the fifteenth century
lamented the fall of their liberties and
the rise Of despotism. Municipal liber-
ties hao failed to give security or prog
Iess. a strong government, even at the
expense OF liberties, was essential to the
welfare Of society, 1t has become a
maxim of common law in Europe that
the management OF foreign affairs is
wholly in the bands of kings. At the
same time that tie nations We're becum-
liz tFItI i4lLCti. q tltSIIt lOI reform StlZ-
cd tie church. Two popes had been
created and the council Of Pisa elected
one TO take the place OF the two, but
this only complicated the matter by
having ,h2ee popes instead OF two The
council Of Constance undertook the re-
formation If the church. The work had
not progressed tal when it was decid-
ed that the concurrence of the pope
was necessary. Several tTuitless attemps
were made, and about the middle of
the century the temporal powers attempts
ed 70 do What the church had failed TO do,
but with no better success. But the doc
trines OF reform took root. Popular relig-
ions broke out about the same time, but
the letoImers Of the church could not
bear with leformels outside the church.
JOHN Huss and jerome of Prague were
burned as heletics. The study of
Greek and Roman antiquity had been re-
viyed il the 14rh century, and when Con
stantinople was taken by the Turks in
40 many Greeks fled to Italy, taking
with them much knowledge OF an
tiquity The church was given up to
intellectual culture and luxury. They
thought no more Of the approach of
Luther and Calvin than Louis XIV.
thought Of the approaching French revo-
the Capitalization OF governments, for the
attempts at church reform, for the intel
lectual revolution, for the invention of
gunpOwder, the compass oil painting,
copper engraving, paper making and
printing. One of the most important
events was the discovery of America. The
religious revolution broke out at a time
when france aud Spain We're contending
Tor the possession of Italy. Germany and
European preponderance
About this time the house of Austria
became predominant, and Henry VIII Of
England inteltered In continental affairs
For a century and a half the struggle
went Oh between Protestants and Catho-
lies, till the treaty Of Westphalia in 1913,
when nations Of both religions acknowl-
edged each other and agreed to live in
peace together.
Liberty triumphed in Holland but per
ished in Spain about the time that Swe-
den and Russia took their places among
the nations. The reformation of the 10th
century is one Of the great events in his
tory. 1t was not merely to reform the
church, but to break loose from authority
The growth of the church had not kept
pace with the growth of the human mil d.
Hereses and philosophical opinio IS
had run their course and disappeared
The reformation was the accumulation Of
centuries Europe had been accustomed
to receive opinions from authority, but
now human reason was to be emancipated
The real power had long since passed to
the temporal powers and all claims of the
church were mere pretentions. In coun-
tries where the reformation was not sue
cessful it prepared the way for an increase
of liberty. The reformation was content
with any form of government if the mind
was left free. In Germany there was no
political liberty either before or after the
reformation, but freedom of thought was
excited and maintained. In England the
reformed church was as full of abuses as
the Romish church. In France the
greatest liberty of disputation was enjoy
ed by both parties till the edct of Nantes
was revoked in 1885.
Science, morality and intellect were all
quickened by this state of freedom. The
reformation accomplished more than was
intended. The reform party demanded
the rights OF individual opinion for them
selves, but refused the same privilege to
those who differed with them. 1t re-
quired ages to discover that when once
the Catholic church is broken from there
is no stopping place short of absolute
freedom of thought