e system. It had little opposition in the height of its power.
When monarchy arose it, too, had the field all to itself. People
recognized this as the only legitimate form of government. Again, when
monarchy failed, people rushed enthusiastically to democracy, and in
their wild enthusiasm made of it a government of terror. How different
were the results. In England there was a slow evolution of
constitutional government in which the rights of the people, the king,
the nobility, and the clergy were respected, and each class fell into
its proper place in the government. In France, each separate power
made its attempt to govern, and failed. Its history points to a truth,
namely, that no kind of government is safe without a system of checks.

{399}

_The Place of France in Modern Civilization_.--Guizot tries to show
that in the seventeenth century France led the civilization of the
world; that while Louis XIV was carrying absolute government to its
greatest height, philosophy, art, and letters flourished; that France,
by furnishing unique and completed systems, has led the European world
in civilization. To a great extent this is true, for France had better
opportunities to develop an advanced civilization than any other
European nation. It must be remembered that France, at an early
period, was completely Romanized, and never lost the force and example
of the Roman civilization; and, also, that in the invasion of the
Norman, the northern spirit gave France vigor, while its crude forms
were overcome by the more cultured forms of French life.

While other nations were still in turmoil France developed a distinct
and separate nationality. At an early period she cast off the power of
Rome and maintained a separate ecclesiastical system which tended to
develop an independent spirit and further increase nationality. Her
population was far greater than that of any other nation, and her
wealth and national resources were vastly superior to those of others.
These elements gave France great prestige and great power, and fitted
her to lead in civil progress. They permitted her to develop a high
state of civilization. If the genius of the French people gave them
adaptability in communicating their culture to others, it certainly was
of service to Europe. Yet the service of France must not be too highly
estimated. If, working in the dark, other nations, not so far advanced
as France on account of material causes, were