New-York tribune., 1901-02-17

Iutisrn absolute, and to preserve itself against
one foe after another had been conquered
Louis Nj found the monarchy in danger from
the encroachments of the great feudal IordA
He weakened their power and put the Kingdom
on settled basis. He left to Charles VIII
a great opportunity which that young ruler on
the whole improved. 1t may be argued that his
plunge into the Italian wars brought little tan
gible benefit to his people. Francis i after MN
burnt bis fingers even more seriously than oo
Charles i'm the peninsula. But the monarchy.
as monarchy. profited by the italian enter
prises of both kings to the extent that it's mar
tial activity on the European stage increased
it's prestige as a political entity Mr. Grants
| narrative is one long record of conflicts abroad
and at home, of economic vicissitudes, of social
conditions favorable to prosperity and re-
pose. now desperately inimical TO anything Of
| the sort. But necessarily the anxiety of the
king to centralze authority in himself TO con-
| sOlidate the power of the monarchy such. Is
! made manifest. In the religious wars the ball
ance is seriously disturbed Charles IN permits
the house of Guse to wax so powerful that
Henry III after stands in dread OF the
| Eame, and. after having Inundated himself by
appealing i'll his own capital for the aid of the
Duke. stoops still further and orders the assaS-
| snation of the man whose power he cannot
| quench in any other way Henry w. brave.
jovial. generous. lovable in many ways is driven
to paltering with his religious belief in order
that he may rule where he has not been able TO
conquer BY the strength in his right arm. But
| the Edict of Nantes. Mr.. Grant puts it, "re-
fleets equal credit upon Henry's head and heart"
| IL was an act of humanity. 1t also an act
| OF statesmanship; and though the King could
make concessions. the main points of his policy
both at home and abroad were of nature TO
pave the way for frmer establishment of the
4 hy Mr.
| faithful to the traditions of Henry W. and it is
| with Richeeu that the monarchy draws near
10 It's apogee. His words give the best
sLccInct account of what he sought to do
This was the aim of my MiHistry-to restore
| 20 France the limits which nature has fixed.
identify Gaul with France. and wherever there
hsid been the ancient Gaul. there to establish the
new. Ihree things opposed my wishes. France
| resisted herself her own enemy; Spain resisted
ior she thought she could bring the whole world
| Under one house if she could make France a
part of that house: the neighboring peoples re-
sisted. friendly Spain because they dared not
| 10 Ge her enemies. To break through these OBJ
| ssduieS reconcled France TO herself in order
| tiidl she might be enemy to those that Were
| without gave Spain occupation at home that
she might cease To be troublesome abroad; I
showed her allies the way freedom and forced
~ ~5olie 10 De iree against their will GauI was
Possessed by two evils-heresy and Hberty-and
councils
/ Along with the ideas that he bequeathed TO
| France. IdCheeu left man 10 whom he feI.
That he could trust their application. Mazarin-
| Ihat statesman did his work we'll. Louis XIV
/ losing him early in his reign was perhaps not
altogether sorry. He had been submissive with
Mazartn But freed from the leading
strings of his Minister he entered upon the career
which was 10 be marked by nothing so much as
| by his answering resolution TO be himself the
sole arbiter of the destnies of France. FOrtu-
| nately. he had serious gifts lying beneath the
| Qualities which have been most conspicuous IN
the portraits drawn of him by the historians and
have commended themselves least 70 pOsJerity.
| 1t is impossible to think says Mr.. Grant.
| that the real ruler of France from 166O to 1115
was incapable either as a statesman OF diploma
| tst.' Fortunately also. RicheIieu had de-
veloped the mOnarchicaI fabric with a skill that
| almost. but not quite rendered it able TO stand
| by itself; he save impetus TO the fortunes
| of the throne which carried them far. Louis
NV added splendOr to his reign by the at
tentiOn he paid TO manners and the liberal
arts. which does much TO explain why his is q
commanding place in the history OF the
archy But he planted the seeds of decay which
were to play such havoc with France as time
| went EgOtism and ruthless ambition in
volved him in disastrous The Court which
| he swayed revived in form the dangers
against which Louis Nj had fought with such