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第24章

beacon lights of history-iii-2-第24章

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Their science amounted only to an analysis of human passion。  All

wanted a government entirely free from tyranny; all expected

impossibilities。  Some were in favor of a Venetian aristocracy; and

others of a pure democracy; yet none would yield to compromise;

without which no permanent political institution can ever be

framed。  How could the inexperienced citizens of Florence

comprehend the complicated relations of governments?  To make a

constitution that the world respects requires the highest maturity

of human wisdom。  It is the supremest labor of great men。  It took

the ablest man ever born among the Jews to give to them a national

polity。  The Roman constitution was the fruit of five hundred

years' experience。  Our constitution was made by the wisest; most

dignified; most enlightened body of statesmen that this country has

yet seen; and even they could not have made it without great mutual

concessions。  No ONE man could have made a constitution; however

great his talents and experience;not even a Jefferson or a

Hamilton;which the nation would have accepted。  It would have

been as full of defects as the legislation of Solon or Lycurgus or

the Abbe Sieyes。  But one man gave a constitution to the

Florentines; which they not only accepted; but which has been

generally admired for its wisdom; and that man was our Dominican

monk。  The hand he had in shaping that constitution not only proved

him to have been a man of great wisdom; but entitled him to the

gratitude of his countrymen as a benefactor。  He saw the vanity of

political science as it then existed; the incapacity of popular

leaders; and the sadness of a people drifting into anarchy and

confusion; and; strong in his own will and his sense of right; he

rose superior to himself; and directed the stormy elements of

passion and fear。  And this he did by his sermons from the pulpit;

for he did not descend; in person; into the stormy arena of

contending passions and interests。  He did not himself attend the

deliberations in the town hall; he was too wise and dignified a man

for that。  But he preached those principles and measures which he

wished to see adopted; and so great was the reverence for him that

the people listened to his instructions; and afterward deliberated

and acted among themselves。  He did not write out a code; but he

told the people what they should put into it。  He was the animating

genius of the city; his voice was obeyed。  He unfolded the theory

that the government of one man; in their circumstances; would

become tyrannical; and he taught the doctrine; then new; that the

people were the only source of power;that they alone had the

right to elect their magistrates。  He therefore recommended a

general government; which should include all citizens who had

intelligence; experience; and position;not all the people; but

such as had been magistrates; or their fathers before them。

Accordingly; a grand council was formed of three thousand citizens;

out of a population of ninety thousand who had reached the age of

twenty…nine。  These three thousand citizens were divided into three

equal bodies; each of which should constitute a council for six

months and no meeting was legal unless two…thirds of the members

were present。  This grand council appointed the magistrates。  But

another council was also recommended and adopted; of only eighty

citizens not under forty years of age;picked men; to be changed

every six months; whom the magistrates were bound to consult

weekly; and to whom was confided the appointment of some of the

higher officers of the State; like ambassadors to neighboring

States。  All laws proposed by the magistrates; or seigniory; had to

be ratified by this higher and selecter council。  The higher

council was a sort of Senate; the lower council were more like

Representatives。  But there was no universal suffrage。  The

clerical legislator knew well enough that only the better and more

intelligent part of the people were fit to vote; even in the

election of magistrates。  He seems to have foreseen the fatal rock

on which all popular institutions are in danger of being wrecked;

that no government is safe and respected when the people who make

it are ignorant and lawless。  So the constitution which Savonarola

gave was neither aristocratic nor democratic。  It resembled that of

Venice more than that of Athens; that of England more than that of

the United States。  Strictly universal suffrage is a Utopian dream

wherever a majority of the people are wicked and degraded。  Sooner

or later it threatens to plunge any nation; as nations now are;

into a whirlpool of dangers; even if Divine Providence may not

permit a nation to be stranded and wrecked altogether。  In the

politics of Savonarola we see great wisdom; and yet great sympathy

for freedom。  He would give the people all that they were fit for。

He would make all offices elective; but only by the suffrages of

the better part of the people。



But the Prior of St。 Mark did not confine himself to constitutional

questions and issues alone。  He would remove all political abuses;

he would tax property; and put an end to forced loans and arbitrary

imposts; he would bring about a general pacification; and grant a

general amnesty for political offences; he would guard against the

extortions of the rich; and the usury of the Jews; who lent money

at thirty…three per cent; with compound interest; he secured the

establishment of a bank for charitable loans; he sought to make the

people good citizens; and to advance their temporal as well as

spiritual interests。  All his reforms; political or social; were

advocated; however; from the pulpit; so that he was doubtless a

political priest。  We; in this country and in these times; have no

very great liking to this union of spiritual and temporal

authority: we would separate and divide this authority。

Protestants would make the functions of the ruler and the priest

forever distinct。  But at that time the popes themselves were

secular rulers; as well as spiritual dignitaries。  All bishops and

abbots had the charge of political interests。  Courts of law were

presided over by priests。  Priests were ambassadors to foreign

powers; they were ministers of kings; they had the control of

innumerable secular affairs; now intrusted to laymen。  So their

interference with politics did not shock the people of Florence; or

the opinions of the age。  It was indeed imperatively called for;

since the clergy were the most learned and influential men of those

times; even in affairs of state。  I doubt if the Catholic Church

has ever abrogated or ignored her old right to meddle in the

politics of a state or nation。  I do not know; nor do I believe;

that the Catholic clergy in this our country take it upon

themselves to instruct the people in their political duties。  No

enlightened Protestant congregation would endure such interference。

No Protestant minister dares ever to discuss direct political

issues from the pulpit; except perhaps on Thanksgiving Day; or in

some rare exigency in public morality。  Still less would he venture

to tell his parishioners how they should vote in town…meetings。  In

imitation of ancient saints and apostles; he is wisely constrained

from interference in secular and political affairs。  But in the

Middle Ages; and the Catholic Church; the priest could be political

in his preaching; since many of his duties were secular。

Savonarola usurped no prerogatives。  He refrained from meeting men

in secular vocations。  Even in his politics he confined himself to

his sphere in the pulpit。  He did not attend the public debates; he

simply preached。  He ruled by wisdom; eloquence; and sanctity; and

as he was an oracle; his utterances became a law。



But while he instructed the people in political duties; he paid far

more attention to public morals。  He would break up luxury;

extravagance; ostentatious living; unseemly dresses in the hous

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