The sun., 1909-06-27
as elsewhere. the questonings to which
II has given rise have proved no lees fruit
full than the solutions 1t has suggested.

as ELSEWHERE, the queeCon1ngs 70 WMcn
II has given rise have proved no lees fruit.
full than the solutions 1t has suggested.
4 "Darwinism and History is the title OF
the twenty-seventh essay, which is con-
tributed by j. B. Bury, regius professor
Of modern history in the University OF
Cambridge. Evidently there are limita-
tions TO the degree to which history may
be interpreted on Darwinian principles,
though these limitations have not always
been fully appreciated. The preliminary
success Of natural science in explaining
organic evolution by general principles
naturally encouraged sooiologists to hope
that social evolution could be explained
on general principles also. The idea OF
Condoroet, Buckle and others that his
tory could be assimilated to the natural
sciences was powerfully reinforced, and
the notion that the actual historical proc
ess, and every social movement involved
in it, can be accounted for by sociological
generalizations, so-called laws, IL still en-
tertained by many In one form or another.
Dissentients from this view do not
the sociologist arrives by the comparative
method, by the analysis Of social factors
and by psychological deduction may be an
aid to the historian, but they deny that
such uniformities are laws or contain an
explanation Of the phenomena. "They
can point Prof. Bury reminds us, TO
the element Of chance coincidence. This
element must have played q part in the
events Of organic evolution, but 1t has
probably in a larger measure helped to
determine events in social evolution. The
collision Of two unconneoted sequences
may be fraught with great results Thus,
to adduoe simple cases, the sudden death
of leader, or the fact that marriage has
been without issue, has led again and
again to permanent political oonse-
quences.
Then, too, much emphasis must be laid
on the decisive action Of individuals,
which cannot be reduced under gener-
alizations. and which nevertheless de-
fleet the current OF events. st is patent
on the face Of history says Prof. Bury.
that its course has constantly been
shaped or modified by the will OF indi-
viduals. which are by no means always
the expression Of the collective will, and
that the appearance OF such personalities
at the given moments Is not a necessary
outcome Of the conditions and cannot
be deduoed.' He adds that there Ia no
proof that, as is sometimes asserted, II
such and such an individual had not been
born some one else would have arisen to
do what he did. In some cases there is no
reason to think that what happened need
ever have come to pass. In other cases
1t seems manifest that the actual change
was inevitable but in default Of the man
who initiated and guided it the change
might have been postponed. and, post
poned or not, might have borne different
stamp. Prof Bury illustrates by an in
stance which has lately. he says. come
under his notice: Modern painting was
founded by Giotto. and the Italian ex-
Of the sixteenth century levidently a
alp Of the pen for fifteenth century, in
troduced into France the fashion OF imi-
tating Italian painters. But for Giotto
and Charles VIII. French painting might
have been very different" 1t may be
said that 'if Giotto had not appeared
some other great initiator would have
played role analogous to his. and that
without Charles VIII. there would have
been the commerce with Italy which in
the long run would have suffioed to place
France In relation with Italian artists;
but the equivalent Of Giotto might have
been deferred for a century and probably
would have been different; and commercial
atott hoy a.
produce the -royonnement initatif' which
the expedition OF the royal adventurer
provoked in few years.
Instances furnished by political history
are endless. Can we conjecture, asks
Prof. Bury. how events would have
moved II the son Of Philip OF Macedon
had been an incompetent young man2
@The aggressive action OF Prussia which
astonished Europe in 174O determined
the subsequent history of Germany; but
that action was anything but inevitable;
it depended entirely on the personality
OF Frederick the Great Hence the au-
thor Of the essay with which We take our
leave OF this commemorative volume
would argue that the action OF individual
wills is determining and disturbing
l0CpOT VOO biHutiCdut anu eueCtIV6 70 al
low history to be grasped by sociological
formula. The types and general forms
of development which the sociologist
attempts to disengage can only assist |
the historian in understanding the actual
course Of events. 1T is in the special
domains Of economic history and cIltur.
geschichte. which have come to the front
in modern times. that generalization Is
most fruitful. but even in these it may
be contended that it furnishes only par
tial explanations M. W. II.
The Story OF Turkeys Awakening.
How a body Of men comparatively
small in number. imbued with political
ideas gathered to a great extent in foreign
lands. and surrounded by despotism with
its hordes Of spies and sycophants sue
ceeded in winning a people. an army and
a church to their cause. overthrow with !
out bloodshed the most autocratic Govern.
ment in the world and established q sys-
TEN OF representative government in it's |
stead is the fascinating story that Mr. |
E. F. KNIGHT has undertaken to tell in |
The Aedkenino Of Turkey u. B. Lippin.
cott). His familiarity with the Ottoman |
Empire. acquired by residence in the |
and more particularly through |
his acquaintance with members Of the |
Young Turk marty f1ts him for Tho IN .y |