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regard as unique in this as in other matters； the greatest and most
independent； Pascal； Descartes； Bossuet； La Bruyère； borrows from the
established society their basic concepts of nature； man； society； law
and government。＇3＇ So long as Reason is limited to this function its
work is that of a councilor of State； an extra preacher dispatched by
its superiors on a missionary tour in the departments of philosophy
and of literature。 Far from proving destructive it consolidates； in
fact； even down to the Regency； its chief employment is to produce
good Christians and loyal subjects。
But now the roles are reversed； tradition descends from the upper
to the lower ranks； while Reason ascends from the latter to the
former。 On the one hand religion and monarchy； through their
excesses and misdeeds under Louis XIV； and their laxity and
incompetence under Louis XV； demolish piece by piece the basis of
hereditary reverence and filial obedience so long serving them as a
foundation； and which maintained them aloft above all dispute and free
of investigation； hence the authority of tradition insensibly declines
and disappears。 On the other hand science； through its imposing and
multiplied discoveries； erects piece by piece a basis of universal
trust and deference； raising itself up from an interesting subject of
curiosity to the rank of a public power； hence the authority of Reason
augments and occupies its place。 A time comes when； the latter
authority having dispossessed the former； the fundamental ideas
tradition had reserved to itself fall into the grasp of Reason。
Investigation penetrates into the forbidden sanctuary。 Instead of
deference there is verification； and religion； the state； the law；
custom； all the organs； in short； of moral and practical life； become
subject to analysis； to be preserved； restored or replaced； according
to the prescriptions of the new doctrine。
II。 ANCESTRAL TRADITION AND CULTURE。
Origin； nature and value of hereditary prejudice。 … How far custom；
religion and government are legitimate。
Nothing could be better had the new doctrine been complete； and
if Reason； instructed by history； had become critical； and therefore
qualified to comprehend the rival she replaced。 For then； instead of
regarding her as an usurper to be repelled she would have recognized
in her an elder sister whose part must be left to her。 Hereditary
prejudice is a sort of Reason operating unconsciously。 It has claims
as well as reason； but it is unable to present these； instead of
advancing those that are authentic it puts forth the doubtful ones。
Its archives are buried； to exhume these it is necessary to make
researches of which it is incapable； nevertheless they exist； and
history at the present day is bringing them to light。 Careful
investigations shows that； like science； it issues from a long
accumulation of experiences； a people； after a multitude of gropings
and efforts； has discovered that a certain way of living and thinking
is the only one adapted to its situation； the most practical and the
most salutary； the system or dogma now seeming arbitrary to us being
at first a confirmed expedient of public safety。 Frequently it is so
still； in any event； in its leading features it is indispensable； it
may be stated with certainty that； if the leading prejudices of the
community should suddenly disappear； Man； deprived of the precious
legacy transmitted to him by the wisdom of ages； would at once fall
back into a savage condition and again become what he was at first；
namely； a restless； famished； wandering； hunted brute。 There was a
time when this heritage was lacking； there are populations to day with
which it is still utterly lacking。＇4＇ To abstain from eating human
flesh； from killing useless or burdensome aged people； from exposing；
selling or killing children one does not know what to do with； to be
the one husband of but one woman； to hold in horror incest and
unnatural practices； to be the sole and recognized owner of a distinct
field； to be mindful of the superior injunctions of modesty； humanity；
honor and conscience； all these observances； formerly unknown and
slowly established； compose the civilization of human beings。 Because
we accept them in full security they are not the less sacred； and they
become only the more sacred when； submitted to investigation and
traced through history； they are disclosed to us as the secret force
which has converted a herd of brutes into a society of men。 In
general； the older and more universal a custom； the more it is based
on profound motives； on physiological motives on those of hygiene； and
on those instituted for social protection。 At one time； as in the
separation of castes； a heroic or thoughtful stock must be preserved
by preventing the mixtures by which inferior blood introduces mental
debility and low instincts。＇5＇ At another； as in the prohibition of
spirituous liquors； and of animal food； it is necessary to conform to
the climate prescribing a vegetable diet； or to the race…temperament
for which strong drink is pernicious。＇6＇At another； as in the
institution of the right of first…born to inherit title and castle； it
was important to prepare and designate beforehand the military
commander who the tribe would obey； or the civil chieftain that would
preserve the domain； superintend its cultivation； and support the
family。＇7＇ If there are valid reasons for legitimizing custom
there are reasons of higher import for the consecration of religion
Consider this point； not in general and according to a vague notion；
but at the outset； at its birth； in the texts； taking for an example
one of the faiths which now rule in society； Christianity； Hinduism；
the law of Mohammed or of Buddha。 At certain critical moments in
history； a few men； emerging from their narrow and daily routine of
life； are seized by some generalized conception of the infinite
universe； the august face of nature is suddenly unveiled to them； in
their sublime emotion they seem to have detected its first cause； they
have at least detected some of its elements。 Through a fortunate
conjunction of circumstances these elements are just those which their
century； their people； a group of peoples； a fragment of humanity is
in a state to comprehend。 Their point of view is the only one at which
the graduated multitudes below them are able to accept。 For millions
of men； for hundreds of generations； only through them is any access
to divine things to be obtained。 Theirs is the unique utterance；
heroic or affecting； enthusiastic or tranquilizing； the only one which
the hearts and minds around them and after them will heed； the only
one adapted to profound cravings； to accumulated aspirations； to
hereditary faculties； to a complete intellectual and moral organism；
Yonder that of Hindostan or of the Mongolian； here that of the Semite
or the European； in our Europe that of the German； the L