按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ly a question of time。 They will； in all present probability； reestablish a Christian and Roman East in much less time from the fall of Constantinople in 1453； than it took the West from the fall of Rome in 476 to put an end to the feudal or barbaric constitution founded by its Germanic invaders。
Indeed； the Roman constitution； laws； and 156 civilization not only gain the mastery in the nations seated within the limits of the old Roman Empire； but extend their power through out the whole civilized world。 The Graeco…Roman civilization is； in fact； the only civilization now recognized； and nations are accounted civilized only in proportion as they are Romanized and Christianized。 The Roman law； as found in the Institutes； Pandects； and Novellae of Justinian； or the Corpus Legis Civilis； is the basis of the law and jurisprudence of all Christendom。 The Graeco…Roman civilization； called not improperly Christian civilization； is the only progressive civilization。 The old feudal system remains in England little more than an empty name。 The king is only the first magistrate of the kingdom； and the House of Lords is only an hereditary senate。 Austria is hard at work in the Roman direction； and finds her chief obstacle to success in Hungary； with the Magyars whose feudalism retains almost the full vigor of the Middle Ages。 Russia is moving in the same direction； and Prussia and the smaller Germanic states obey the same impulse。 Indeed； Rome has survived the conquesthas conquered her conquerors； and now invades every region from which they came。 The Roman Empire may be said to be acknowledged 157 and obeyed in lands lying far beyond the farthest limits reached by the Roman eagles； and to be more truly the mistress of the world than under Augustus； Trajan； or the Antonines。 Nothing can stand before the Christian and Romanized nations； and all pagandom and Mohammedom combined are too weak to resist their onward march。
All modern European revolutions result only in reviving the Roman Empire； whatever the motives； interests； passions； or theories that initiate them。 The French Revolution of the last century and that of the present prove it。 France； let people say what they will； stands at the head of the European civilized world； and displays en grand all its good and all its bad tendencies。 When she moves； Europe moves； when she has a vertigo； all European nations are dizzy； when she recovers her health； her equilibrium； and good sense； others become sedate； steady； and reasonable。 She is the head； nay； rather； the heart of Christendomthe head is at Romethrough which circulates the pure and impure blood of the nations。 It is in vain Great Britain； Germany； or Russia disputes with her the hegemony of European civilization。 They are forced to yield to her at last； to be content to revolve around her as 158 the centre of the political system that masters them。 The reason is； France is more completely and sincerely Roman than any other nation。 The revolutions that have shaken the world have resulted in eliminating the barbaric elements she had retained； and clearing away all obstacles to the complete triumph of Imperial Rome。 Napoleon III。 is for France what Augustus was for Rome。 The revolutions in Spain and Italy have only swept away the relics of the barbaric constitution； and aided the revival of Roman imperialism。 In no country do the revolutionists succeed in establishing their own theories； Caesar remains master of the field。 Even in the United States； a revolution undertaken in favor of the barbaric system has resulted in the destruction of what remained of that systemin sweeping away the last relics of disintegrating feudalism； and in the complete establishment of the Graeco…Roman system； with important improvements； in the New World。
The Roman system is republican； in the broad sense of the term； because under it power is never an estate； never the private for the public good。 As it existed under the Caesars； and is revived in modern times； whether under the 159 imperial or the democratic form； it； no doubt； tends to centralism； to the concentration of all the powers and forces of the state in one central government； from which all local authorities and institutions emanate。 Wise men oppose it as affording no guaranties to individual liberty against the abuses of power。 This it may not do； but the remedy is not in feudalism。 The feudal lord holds his authority as an estate； and has over the people under him all the power of Caesar and all the rights of the proprietor。 He； indeed； has a guaranty against his liege…lord； sometimes a more effective guaranty than his liege…lord has against him； but against his centralized power his vassals and serfs have only the guaranty that a slave has against his owner。
Feudalism is alike hostile to the freedom of public authority and of the people。 It is essentially a disintegrating element in the nation。 It breaks the unity and individuality of the state； embarrasses the sovereign； and guards against the abuse of public authority by overpowering and suppressing it。 Every feudal lord is a more thorough despot in his own domain than Caesar ever was or could be in the empire； and the monarch； even if strong enough； is yet not competent to intervene between him and his 160 people； any more than the General government in the United States was to intervene between the negro slave and his master。 The great vassals of the crown singly； or； if not singly； in combinationand they could always combine in the interest of their orderwere too strong for the king； or to be brought under any public authority； and could issue from their fortified castles and rob and plunder to their hearts' content； with none to call them to an account。 Under the most thoroughly centralized government there is far more liberty for the people； and a far greater security for person and property； except in the case of the feudal nobles themselves； than was even dreamed of while the feudal regime was in full vigor。 Nobles were themselves free； it is conceded； but not the people。 The king was too weak； too restricted in his action by the feudal constitution to reach them； and the higher clergy were ex officio sovereigns； princes； barons； or feudal lords； and were led by their private interests to act with the feudal nobility； save when that nobility threatened the temporalities of the church。 The only reliance； under God； left in feudal times to the poor people was in the lower ranks of the clergy； especially of the regular clergy。 All the great German emperors in the twelfth and 161 thirteenth centuries； who saw the evils of feudalism； and attempted to break it up and revive imperial Rome； became involved in quarrels with the chiefs of the religious society； and failed； because the interest of the Popes； as feudal sovereigns and Italian princes； and the interests of the dignified clergy； were for