第63章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White",免费读到尾

  InFranceandGermanyIhadobservedabettersystem,and,especiallyattheCollegedeFrance,hadbeeninterestedinthecoursesofLaboulayeon\"ComparativeLegislation。\"Thelattersubject,aboveall,seemedlikelytoprovefruitfulintheUnitedStates,wherenotonlythenationalCongressbutoverfortyStatelegislaturesaretryinginvariousways,yearafteryear,tosolvethemanifoldproblemspresentedtothem。Thereforeitwasthat,whiledischargingmydutiesasacommissionerattheParisExpositionof1878,Itookpainstosecureinformationregardinginstruction,invariousEuropeancountries,havingasitsobjectthepreparationofyoungmenforthecivilanddiplomaticservice。EspeciallywasIstruckbythethoroughequipmentforthediplomaticandconsularservicesgivenatthenewlyestablishedecoleLibredesSciencesPolitiquesatParis;consequentlymyreportascommissionerwasdevotedtothisgeneralsubject。Onmyreturnthiswaspublishedunderthetitleof\"TheProvisionforHigherInstructioninSubjectsbearingdirectlyonPublicAffairs,\"andaportionofmymaterialwasthrown,atalaterday,intoanappealfortheestablishmentofpropercoursesinhistoryandpoliticalscience,whichtookthefinalformofacommencementaddressatJohnsHopkinsUniversity。

  Itisagreatsatisfactiontomethatthispublication,actingwithotherforcesinthesamedirection,hasbeenevidentlyusefulNothinginthegreatdevelopmentofouruniversitiesduringthelastquarterofacenturyhasbeenmoregratifyingandfullofpromiseforthecountrythantheincreasedprovisionforinstructionbearingonpublicquestions,andtheincreasedinterestinsuchinstructionshownbystudents,and,indeed,bythecommunityatlargeImayaddthatofallthekindnessesshownmebythetrusteesofCornellUniversityatmyresignationofitspresidency,therewasnonewhichpleasedmemorethantheattachmentofmynametotheirnewlyestablishedCollegeofHistoryandPoliticalScience。

  Duringthissameperiodanotherimmediatelypracticalsubjectwhichinterestedmewasthereformofthecivilservice;and,havingspokenuponthisatvariouspublicmeetingsaswellaswrittenprivateletterstovariouspublicmeninordertokeepthemthinkinguponit,Ipublishedin1882,inthe\"NorthAmericanReview,\"anarticlegivinghistoricalfactsregardingtheorigin,evolution,andresultsofthespoilssystem,entitled,\"DotheSpoilsBelongtotheVictor?\"ThisbroughtuponmeabitterpersonalattackfrommyoldfriendMr。ThurlowWeed,who,far—sightedandshrewdashewas,couldneverseehowrepublicaninstitutionscouldbemadetoworkwithouttheanticipationofspoils;butforthisIwasmorethancompensatedbythefriendshipofyoungermenwhoarelikelytohavefarmoretodowithourfuturepoliticaldevelopmentthanwilltheoldraceofpoliticians,and,chiefamongtheseyoungmen,Mr。

  TheodoreRoosevelt。Iwasalsodrawnofftoothersubjects,makingaddressesatvariousuniversitiesonpointswhichseemedtomeofimportance,themostsuccessfulofallbeingonegivenatYale,uponthethirtiethanniversaryofmyclass,entitled,\"TheMessageoftheNineteenthCenturytotheTwentieth。\"Itwasanendeavortostrengthenthehandsofthosewhowerelaboringtomaintaintheproperbalancebetweenthehumanitiesandtechnicalstudies。TothelatterIhadindeeddevotedmanyyearsofmylife,butthetimehadarrivedwhentheothersideseemedtodemandattention。Thisaddress,thoughtheresultofmuchpreliminarymeditation,wasdictatedinallthehurryandworryofaCornellcommencementweekandgivenintheYalechapeltheweekfollowing。ProbablynothingwhichIhaveeverdone,saveperhapsthetractateon\"PaperMoneyInflationinFrance,\"

  receivedsuchimmediateandwide—spreadrecognition:itwascirculatedveryextensivelyintheNewYork\"Independent,\"thenintheformofapamphlet,forwhichtherewaslargedemand,andfinally,stillmorewidely,inacheapform。

  ElsewhereinthesereminiscencesIhavegivenanaccountoftheevolutionofmy\"HistoryoftheWarfareofSciencewithTheology。\"Itwasgrowinginmymindforabouttwentyyears,andmymainreading,evenformydifferentcoursesoflectures,hadmoreorlessconnectionwithit。Firstgivenasalecture,itwasthenextendedintoalittlebookwhichgrew,intheshapeofnewchapters,intomuchlargerfinalform。ItwaswrittenmainlyatCornellUniversity,butseveralofitschaptersinotherpartsoftheworld,onebeingalmostwhollypreparedontheNile,atAthens,andatMunich;anotheratSt。PetersburgandduringajourneyintheScandinaviancountries;andotherchaptersinEnglandandFrance。Atlast,inthesparehoursofmyofficiallifeatSt。PetersburgImadeanendofthework;andinItaly,duringthewinterandspringof1894—1895,gaveitfinalrevision。

  Forvaluableaidincollectingmaterialsandmakingnotesinpubliclibraries,Iwasindebtedtovariousfriendswhosenamesarementionedinitspreface;andaboveall,tomydearfriendandformerstudent,ProfessorGeorgeLincolnBurr,whonotonlyaidedmegreatlyduringthelatterpartofmytaskbywisesuggestionsandcautions,butwhoreadtheproofsandmadetheindex。

  PerhapsImaybeallowedtorepeatherethatmypurposeinpreparingthisbookwastostrengthennotonlysciencebutreligion。Ihaveneverhadanytendencytoscoffing,norhaveI

  likedscoffers。Manyofmyclosestassociationsanddearestfriendshipshavebeen,andstillare,withclergymen。Clergymenaregenerally,inourcitiesandvillages,amongthebestandmostintelligentmenthatonefinds,and,asarule,withthoughtfulandtolerantoldlawyersanddoctors,thepeoplebestworthknowing。Myaiminwritingwasnotonlytoaidinfreeingsciencefromtrammelswhichforcenturieshadbeenvexatiousandcruel,butalsotostrengthenreligiousteachersbyenablingthemtoseesomeoftheevilsinthepastwhich,forthesakeofreligionitself,theyoughttoguardagainstinthefuture。

  DuringvacationjourneysinEuropeIwasled,atvarioushistoricalcenters,totakeupspecialsubjectsakintothosedevelopedinmylectures。Thus,duringmythirdvisittoFlorence,havingreadManzoni’s\"PromessiSposi,\"whichstillseemstomethemostbeautifulhistoricalromanceeverwritten,I

  wasgreatlyimpressedbythatpartofitwhichdepictsthesuperstitionsandlegalcrueltiesengenderedbytheplagueatMilan。Thisstory,withManzoni’s\"ColonnaInfame\"andCantu’s\"VitadiBeccaria,\"ledmetotakeupthehistoryofcriminallaw,andespeciallythedevelopmentoftortureinprocedureandpunishment。Muchtimeduringtwoorthreeyearswasgiventothissubject,andawinteratStuttgartin1877—1878wasentirelydevotedtoit。InthecourseofthesestudiesIrealizedasneverbeforehowmuchdogmatictheologyandecclesiasticismhavedonetodevelopandmaintainthemostfrightfulfeaturesinpenallaw。

  IfoundthatinGreeceandRome,beforethecominginofChristianity,torturehadbeenreducedtoaminimumand,indeed,hadbeenmainlyabolished;butthatthedoctrineinthemediaevalchurchasto\"ExceptedCases\"——namely,casesofheresyandwitchcraft,regardingwhichthetheologicaldogmawasdevelopedthatSatanwouldexercisehispowerstohelphisvotaries——hadledtothereestablishmentofasystemoftorture,inordertobaffleandovercomeSatan,farmorecruelthananywhichprevailedunderpaganism。

  Ialsofoundthat,whileunderthelaterRomanemperorsand,infact,downtothecompletesupremacyofChristianity,criminalproceduregrewsteadilymoreandmoremerciful,assoonasthechurchwasestablishedinfullpoweryetanothertheologicaldoctrinecameinwithsuchforcethatitextendedtheuseoftorturefromthe\"ExceptedCases\"namedabovetoallcriminalprocedure,andmaintainedit,initsmostfrightfulform,formorethanathousandyears。ThisnewdoctrinewasthatsincetheAlmightypunisheshiserringchildrenbytorturesinfiniteincrueltyandeternalinduration,earthlyauthoritiesmayjustlyimitatethisdivineexamplesofarastheirfinitepowersenablethemtodoso。Ifoundthisdoctrinenotonlyespeciallyeffectiveinthemediaevalchurch,buttakingonevenmorehideouscharacteristicsintheProtestantChurch,especiallyinGermany。OnthissubjectIcollectedmuchmaterial,someofitveryinterestingandlittleknowneventohistoricalscholars。OfthiswereoriginaleditionsoftheoldcriminalcodesofEuropeandlatercriminalcodesinFranceandGermanydowntotheFrenchRevolution,nearlyallofwhichwereenrichedwithengravingsillustratinginstrumentsandprocessesoftorture。So,too,aghastlylightwasthrownintothewholesubjectbytheexecutioners’tariffsinthevariousGermanstates,especiallythoseunderecclesiasticalrule。Oneofseveralinmypossession,whichwaspublishedbytheElectorArchbishopofColognein1757

  andstampedwiththearchbishop’sseal,specifiesandsanctionseveryformofingeniouscrueltywhichonehumanbeingcanexerciseuponanother,and,oppositeeachofthesecruelties,thepricewhichtheexecutionerwasauthorizedtoreceiveforadministeringit。Thus,forcuttingofftherighthandsomuch;

  fortearingoutthetongue,somuch;fortearingthefleshwithhotpincers,somuch;forburningacriminalalive,somuch;andsoonthroughtwofoliopages。Moreover,Ihadcollecteddetailsofwitchcraftcondemnations,which,duringmorethanacentury,wentonattherateofmorethanathousandayearinGermanyalone,andnotonlyprintedbooksbuttheoriginalmanuscriptdepositionstakenfromthevictimsinthetorture—chamber。OfthesewerethetrialpapersofDietrichFlade,whohadbeen,towardtheendofthesixteenthcentury,oneofthemosteminentmenineasternGermany,chiefjusticeoftheprovinceandrectoroftheUniversityofTreves。Havingventuredtothinkwitchcraftadelusion,hewasputontrialbythearchbishop,tortureduntilinhisagonyheacknowledgedeveryimpossiblethingsuggestedtohim,andfinallystrangledandburned。Inhiscase,asinvariousothers,Ihavetheipsissimaverbaoftheaccusersandaccused:

  theoriginalreportinthehandwritingofthescribewhowaspresentatthetortureandwrotedownthequestionsofthejudgesandtheanswersoftheprisoner。

  OnthismaterialIbasedashortcourseoflectureson\"TheEvolutionofHumanityinCriminalLaw,\"andhaveoftenthoughtofthrowingtheseintotheformofasmallbooktobecalled\"TheWarfareofHumanitywithUnreason\";butthiswillprobablyremainamereproject。Imentionithere,hopingthatsomeotherperson,withmoreleisure,willsomedayproperlypresentthesefactsasbearingontheclaimsoftheologiansandecclesiasticstodirecteducationandcontrolthought。

  Ofthisperiod,too,weresundryprojectsforspecialmonographs。

  Thus,duringvariousvisitstoFlorence,Iplannedahistoryofthatcity。IthadinterestedmeinmystudentdaysduringmyreadingofSismondi’s\"HistoryoftheItalianRepublics,\"andonresumingmystudiesinthatfielditseemedtomethatahistoryofFlorencemightbemade,mostvaried,interesting,andinstructive。Itwouldembrace,ofcourse,amostremarkableperiodofpoliticaldevelopment——thegrowthofamediaevalrepublicoutofearlyanarchyandtyranny;someofthemostcuriousexperimentsingovernmentevermade;themostwonderful,perhaps,ofallgrowthsinart,literature,andscience;andthefinalsupremacyofamonarchy,bringingmanyinterestingresults,yetgivingsometerriblewarnings。ButthemoreIreadthemoreI

  sawthattowritesuchahistoryamanmustrelinquisheverythingelse,andsoitwasgivenup。So,too,duringvarioussojournsatVenicemyoldinterestinFatherPaulSarpi,whichhadbeenarousedduringmyearlyprofessoriallifewhilereadinghispithyandbrillianthistoryoftheCouncilofTrent,wasgreatlyincreased,andIcollectedaconsiderablelibrarywiththeideaofwritingashortbiographyofhimforAmericanreaders。This,ofallprojectsnotexecuted,hasbeenperhapsthemostdifficultformetorelinquish。MylastthreevisitstoVenicehaveespeciallyrevivedmyinterestinhimandincreasedmycollectionofbooksregardinghim。ThedesiretospreadhisfamehascomeovermeverystronglyasIhavestoodinthecouncil—roomsoftheVenetianRepublic,whichheservedsolongandsowell;asIhavelookeduponhisstatueonthespotwherehewasleftfordeadbytheemissariesofPopePaulV;andasIhavemusedoverhisgrave,solongdesecratedandhiddenbymonks,butintheselatterdayshonoredwithaninscription。Butotherworkhasclaimedme,andothersmustwriteuponthissubject。Itiswellworthyofattention,notonlyfortheinterestofitsdetails,butforthelightitthrowsupongreatforcesstillatworkintheworld。StrongmenhavediscusseditforEuropeanreaders,butitdeservestobeespeciallypresentedtoAmericans。

  IthinkaneminentEuropeanpublicistentirelyrightinsayingthatFatherPaulisoneofthethreemen,sincethemiddleages,whohaveexercisedthemostprofoundinfluenceonItaly;theothertwobeingGalileoandMachiavelli。ThereasonassignedbythishistorianforthisjudgmentisnotmerelythefactthatFatherPaulwasoneofthemosteminentmeninsciencewhomItalyhasproduced,northeequallyincontestablefactthathetaughttheVenetianRepublic——andfinallytheworld——howtowithstandpapalusurpationofcivilpower,butthatbyhishistoryoftheCouncilofTrentheshowed\"howtheHolySpiritconductsthecouncilsofthechurch\"(\"commequoileSaintEspritdirigelesconciles\")。[36]

  [36]Sincewritingtheabove,Ihavepublishedinthe\"AtlanticMonthly\"twohistoricalessaysuponSarpi。

  YetanothersubjectwhichIwouldhavebeengladtopresentwasthelifeofSt。FrancisXavier——partlyonaccountofmyvenerationforthegreatApostletotheIndies,andpartlybecauseacollationofhissuccessivebiographiessostrikinglyrevealstheoriginandgrowthofmythandlegendinthewarmatmosphereofdevotion。TheprojectofwritingsuchabookwasformedinmyCornelllecture—roomatthecloseofashortcourseoflecturesonthe\"JesuitReactionwhichfollowedtheReformation。\"InthelastoftheseIhadpointedoutthebeautyofXavier’swork,andhadshownhownaturalhadbeentheimmensegrowthofmythandlegendinconnectionwithit。AmongmyhearerswasGoldwinSmith,andaswecameouthesaid:\"IhaveoftenthoughtthatifanyoneweretotakeaseriesofthepublishedlivesofoneofthegreatJesuitsaints,beginningatthebeginningandcomparingthesuccessivebiographiesastheyhaveappeared,centuryaftercentury,downtoourowntimemuchlightwouldbethrownupontheevolutionofthemiraculousinreligion。\"Iwasstruckbythisidea,anditoccurredtomethat,ofallsuchexamples,thatofFrancisXavierwouldbethemostfruitfulandinteresting。Forwehave,tobeginwith,hisownletterswrittenfromthesceneofhisgreatmissionarylaborsintheEast,inwhichnomiraclesappear。Wehavethelettersofhisassociatesatthatperiod,inwhichthereisalsonoknowledgeshownofanymiraclesperformedbyhim。WealsohavethegreatspeechesofLaynez,oneofXavier’sassociates,who,attheCouncilofTrent,didhisbesttopromoteJesuitinterests,andwhoyetshowednoknowledgeofanymiraclesperformedbyXavier。

  WehavetheveryimportantworkbyJosephAcosta,theeminentprovincialoftheJesuits,writtenatalaterperiod,largelyontheconversionoftheIndies,andespeciallyonXavier’spartinit,which,whileaccepting,inaperfunctoryway,theattributionofmiraclestoXavier,givesusreasoningwhichseemsentirelytodiscreditthem。ThenwehavebiographiesofXavier,publishedsoonafterhisdeath,inwhichveryslighttracesofmiraclesbegintobefound;thenotherbiographieslaterandlater,centuryaftercentury,inwhichmoreandmoremiraclesappear,andearliermiraclesofverysimplecharactergrowmoreandmorecomplexandastounding,untilfinallyweseehimcreditedwithavastnumberofthemoststrikingmiracleseverconceivedof。InordertodevelopthesubjectIhavecollectedbooksanddocumentsofeverysortbearinguponitfromhistimetoours,andhavegivenabriefsummaryoftheresultsinmy\"HistoryoftheWarfareofScience。\"Butthefulldevelopmentofthissubject,whichthrowsintenselightuponthegrowthofmiraclesinthebiographiesofsomanybenefactorsofourrace,mustprobablybelefttoothers。

  Itshouldbetreatedwithjudicialfairness。ThereshouldnotbeatraceofprejudiceagainstthechurchXavierserved。TheinfallibilityofthePopewhocanonizedhimwasindeedcommittedtotherealityofmiracleswhichXaviercertainlyneverperformed;butthechurchatlargecannotjustlybeblamedforthis:itwasindeedmadethemoreillustriousbyXavier’sgreatexample。Theevil,ifeviltherewas,layinhumannature,andaproperhistoryofthisevolutionofmythandlegend,bythrowinglightintooneofthestrongestpropensitiesofdevoutminds,wouldgiveamostvaluablewarningagainstbasingreligioussystemsonmiraculousclaimswhichareconstantlybecomingmoreandmorediscreditedandthereforemoreandmoredangeroustoanysystemwhichpersistsinusingthem。

  Stillanotherprojectinterestedme;effortconnectedwithitwasakindofrecreation;thisprojectwasformedduringmyattachedaysatSt。PetersburgwithGovernorSeymour。ItwasabriefbiographyofThomasJefferson。Imadesomeheadwayinit,butwasatlastpainfullyconvincedthatIshouldneverhavetimetofinishitworthily。Besidesthis,aftertheCivilWar,Jefferson,thoughstillinterestingtome,wasbynomeanssogreatamaninmyeyesashehadbeen。PerhapsnodoctrineevercostanyothercountrysodearasJefferson’spettheoryofStaterightscosttheUnitedStates:nearlyamillionofliveslostonbattle—fields,inprisons,andinhospitals;nearlytenthousandmillionsofdollarspouredintogulfsofhatred。

  WithanotherprojectIwasmorefortunate。In1875IwasaskedtoprepareabibliographicalintroductiontoMr。O’ConnorMorris’sshorthistoryoftheFrenchRevolution。ThisIdidwithmuchcare,foritseemedtomethatthisperiodinhistory,givingmostinterestingmaterialforstudyandthought,hadbeenmuchobscuredbyideasdrawnfromtrashybooksinsteadoffromthereallygoodauthorities。

  Havingfinishedthisshortbibliography,itoccurredtomethatamuchmoreextensivework,givingaselectionofthebestauthoritiesonallthemainperiodsofmodernhistory,mightbeuseful。ThisIbegan,andwasdeeplyinterestedinit;buthere,asinvariousotherprojects,thefateswereagainstme。BeingappointedacommissionertotheFrenchExposition,andseeinginthisanopportunitytodootherworkwhichIhadatheart,I

  askedmysuccessorintheprofessorshipofhistoryattheUniversityofMichigan,whoatalaterperiodbecamemysuccessoraspresidentofCornell,Dr。CharlesKendallAdams,totaketheworkoffmyhands。Thishedid,andproducedabookfarbetterthananywhichIcouldhavewritten。ThekindremarksinhisprefaceregardingmysuggestionsIgreatlyprize,andfeelthatthisproject,atleast,thoughIcouldnotaccomplishit,hadamosthappyissue。

  AnotherprojectwhichIhavelongcherishedisofaverydifferentsort;andthoughitmaynotbepossibleformetocarryitout,myhopeisthatsomeotherpersonwilldoso。FormanyyearsIhavenotedwithpridethemunificentgiftsmadeforeducationalandcharitablepurposesintheUnitedStates。Itisanoblehistory,——onewhichdoeshonornotonlytoourowncountry,buttohumannature。NoothercountryhasseenanymunificencewhichapproachesthatsofamiliartoAmericans。Therecordsshowthatduringtheyear1903nearly,ifnotquite,eightymillionsofdollarsweregivenbyprivatepartiesforthesepublicpurposes。Ithaslongseemedtomethatalittlebookbasedonthehistoryofsuchgifts,pointingoutthelinesinwhichtheyhavebeenmostsuccessful,mightbeofmuchuse,andmorethanonceIhavetalkedoverwithmydearfriendGilman,atpresentpresidentoftheCarnegieInstitutionatWashington,theideaofourworkingtogetherintheproductionofapamphletorvolumewithsomesuchtitleas,\"WhatRichAmericanshaveDoneandcanDowiththeirMoney。\"ButmyfriendhasbeenbusyinhisgreatworkoffoundinganddevelopingtheuniversityatBaltimore,I

  havebeenoflateyearsoccupiedinotherpartsoftheworld,andsothisprojectremainsunfulfilled。Therearemanyreasonsforthepublicationofsuchabook。Mostofthegiftsabovereferredtohavebeenwiselymade;butsomehavenot,andaconsiderablenumberhavecausedconfusioninAmericaneducationratherthanaideditshealthfuldevelopment。Manygoodthingshaveresultedfromthesegifts,butsomevastlyimportantmattershavebeenutterlyneglected。Wehaveseenexcellentsmallcollegestransformedbygiftsintopretentiousandinadequateshamscalled\"universities\";wehaveseengreattelescopesgivenwithoutanyaccompanyinginstruments,andwithnoprovisionforanobservatory;magnificentcollectionsingeologygiventoinstitutionswhichhadnoprofessorinthatscience;beautifulherbariumsaddedtoinstitutionswherethereisnoinstructioninbotany;professorshipsofnouseestablishedwhereothersoftheutmostimportanceshouldhavebeenfounded;institutionsfoundedwheretheywerenotneeded,andnothingdonewheretheywereneeded。Hewhowillwriteathoughtfulbookonthissubject,baseduponacarefulstudyoflateeducationalhistory,mayrenderagreatservice。AsIrevisethischapterImaysaythatinanaddressatYalein1903,entitled,\"APatrioticInvestment,\"Isoughttopointoutoneofthemanywaysinwhichrichmenmaymeetapressingneedofouruniversitieswithgreatgoodtothecountryatlarge。[37]

  [37]See\"APatrioticInvestment,\"NewHaven,1903。

  Yetanotherprojecthasoccupiedmuchtimeandthought,andmay,Ihope,beyetfullycarriedout。FormanyyearsIhavethoughtmuchonourwretchedlegislationagainstcrimeandontheimperfectadministrationofsuchcriminallawaswehave。Yearsago,aftercomparingthecriminalstatisticsofourowncountrywiththoseofothernations,Icametotheconclusionthat,withthepossibleexceptionofthelowerpartsoftheItaliankingdom,thereismoreunpunishedmurderinourowncountrythaninanyotherinthecivilizedworld。ThisconditionofthingsIfoundtobenotunknowntoothers;butthereseemedtoprevailasortoflistlesshopelessnessregardinganyremedyforit。DininginPhiladelphiawithmyclassmateanddearfriendWayneMacVeagh,I

  foundbesidemeoneofthemosteminentjudgesinPennsylvania,andthisquestionofhighcrimehavingbeenbroachedandthecausesofitdiscussed,thejudgequietlyremarked,\"Thetakingoflife,afterafullandfairtrial,asapenaltyformurder,seemstobetheonlyformoftakinglifetowhichtheaverageAmericanhasanyobjection。\"Manyofourdealingswithmurderandotherhighcrimeswouldseemtoshowthatthejudgewas,onthewhole,right。Mymainstudyonthesubjectwasmadein1892,duringajourneyofmorethantwelvethousandmileswithMr。

  AndrewCarnegieandhispartythroughtheMiddle,Southern,Southwestern,Pacific,andNorthwesternStates。Westoppedatalltheimportantplacesonourroute,andatvastnumbersofunimportantplaces;ateveryoneoftheseIboughtallthenewspapersobtainable,examinedthemwithreferencetothissubject,andfoundthatthelongdailyrecordofmurdersinourmetropolitanjournalsisfarfromgivingusthefullreality。I

  constantlyfoundinthelocalpapers,attheseout—of—the—wayplaces,numerousaccountsofmurderswhichneverreachedthemetropolitanjournals。Moststrikingtestimonywasalsogivenmebyindividuals,——inonecasebyaUnitedStatessenator,whogavemethehistoryofacountrymerchant,inoneoftheSouthwesternStates,whohadatdifferenttimeskilledeightpersons,andwhoathislastventure,endeavoringtokillamanwhohadvexedhiminamereverbalquarrel,hadfiredintoalumber—wagoncontainingapartycomingfromchurch,andkilledthreepersons,oneofthemalittlegirl。Andmyinformantaddedthatthismurdererhadneverbeenpunished。InCaliforniaIsawwalkingjauntilyalongthestreets,andafterwarddiscoursinginadrawing—room,amanwho,onbeingcautionedbyapolicemanwhiledisturbingthepublicpeaceayearortwobefore,hadsimplyshotthepolicemandead,andhadbeentriedtwice,buteachtimewithadisagreementofthejury。MultitudesofothercasesIfoundequallybad。Icollectedamassofmaterialillustratingthesubject,andonthisbasedanaddressgivenforthefirsttimeinSanFrancisco,andafterwardatBoston,NewYork,NewHaven,CornellUniversity,andtheStateuniversitiesofWisconsinandMinnesota。Myaimwastoarousethinkingmentotheimportanceofthesubject,andInowhopetoprepareadiscussionof\"TheProblemofHighCrime,\"tobedividedintothreeparts,thefirstonthepresentconditionoftheproblem,thesecondonitsorigin,andthethirdonpossibleandprobableremedies。

  Ofallmyprojectsforhistoricaltreatises,therearetwowhichIhavedreamedofformanyyears,hopingagainsthopefortheirrealization。Ihavetriedtoinducesomeofouryoungerhistoricalprofessorstoundertakethemortotrainupstudentstoundertakethem;and,asthetimehasgonebywhenIcandevotemyselftothem,Inowmentiontheminthehopethatsomeonewillarisetodohonortohimselfandtoourcountrybydevelopingthem。

  ThefirstoftheseisahistoryofthemiddleagesinthegeneralstyleofRobertson’s\"IntroductiontotheLifeofCharlesV。\"

  Yearsago,whenbeginningmyworkasaprofessorofmodernhistoryattheUniversityofMichigan,Ifeltgreatlytheneedformystudentsofsomeworkwhichshouldshowbrieflybutclearlythetransitionfromancienthistorytomodern。Lifeisnotlongenoughforthestudyoftheminutedetailsofthemediaevalperiodinadditiontoancientandmodernhistory。WhatisneededforthemassofthinkingyoungmenissomethingwhichshallshowwhattheworkwaswhichwasaccomplishedbetweenthefallofRomeandthenewbeginningsofcivilizationattheRenascenceandtheReformation。ForthispurposeRobertson’sworkwasonceamasterpiece。IthasrenderedgreatservicesnotonlyinEnglish—speakinglands,butinothers,byenablingthinkingmentoseehowthismodernworldhasbeendevelopedoutofthepastandtogainsomeideasastothewayinwhichayetnoblercivilizationmaybedevelopedoutofthepresentRobertson’sworkstillremainsaclassic,butmodernhistoricalresearchhassupersededlargepartsofit,andwhatisnowneededisashorthistory——of,say,threehundredpages——carriedoutonthemainlinesofRobertson,takinginsuccessionthemostimportantsubjectsintheevolutionofmediaevalhistory,discardingallexceptingtheleadingpointsinchronology,andbringingoutclearlythesequenceofgreathistoricalcausesandresultsfromthedownfallofRometotheformationofthegreatmodernstates。

  AndtheremightwellbebroughtintoconnectionwiththiswhatRobertsondidnotgive——namely,sketchesshowingthecharacterandworkofsomeofthemenwhowroughtmostpowerfullyinthistransition。

  DuringmystayattheUniversityofMichigan,Imadeabeginningofsuchahistorybygivingacourseoflecturesonthegrowthofcivilizationinthemiddleages,takingupsuchsubjectsasthedownfallofRome,thebarbarianinvasion,theriseofthepapacy,feudalism,Mohammedanism,theanti—feudaleffectsofthecrusades,theriseoffreecities,thegrowthoflaw,thegrowthofliterature,andendingwiththecentralizationofmonarchicalpowerinthefourteenthandfifteenthcenturies。Butthelecturesthenpreparedwerebasedmerelyuponcopiousnotesandgiven,asregardedphrasing,extemporaneously。Itistoolateformenowtowritethemoutortopresentthesubjectinthelightofmodernhistoricalresearch;butIknowofnosubjectwhichisbettercalculatedtobroadenthemindandextendthehorizonofhistoricalstudiesinouruniversities。ProvostStilleoftheUniversityofPennsylvaniadidindeedcarryout,inpart,somethingofthiskind,buttimefailedhimformakingmorethanabeginning。Themanwho,ofallinourtime,seemstomebestfittedtoundertakethismuchneededworkisFredericHarrison。

  IfthegeneralmethodofRobertsonwerecombinedwiththespiritshownintheearlychaptersofHarrison’sbookon\"TheMeaningofHistory,\"theresultantworkwouldbenotonlyofgreatservice,butattractivetoallthinkingmen。

  And,lastofall,aprojectwhichhaslongbeenoneofmydreams——a\"HistoryofCivilizationinSpain。\"WereItwentyyearsyounger,Iwouldgladlycutmyselfloosefromallentanglementsandthrowmyselfintothiswholly。Itseemstomethemostsuggestivehistorynowtobewritten。Thematerialathandisampleandeasilyaccessible。Amultitudeofhistorianshavemaderemarkablecontributionstoit,andamongthese,inourowncountry,Irving,Prescott,Motley,Ticknor,andLea;inEngland,Froude,Ford,Buckle,andothershavegivenmanypregnantsuggestionsandsomeincreaseofknowledge;GermanyandFrancehavecontributedmuchintheformofprintedbooks;Spain,muchinthepublicationofarchivesandsundryinterestinghistoriesapologizingfortheworstthingsinSpanishhistory;theNetherlandshavealsocontributeddocumentsofgreatvalue。Thereislittleneedofdelvingamongmanuscripts;thathasalreadybeendone,andtheresultsareeasilywithinreachofanyscholar。The\"HistoryofCivilizationinSpain\"isahistoryofperhapsthefinestamalgamationofraceswhichwasmadeatthedownfalloftheRomanEmpire;ofsplendidbeginningsoflibertyanditsnobleexerciseinthemiddleages;ofhighendeavor;ofawonderfulgrowthinartandliterature。Butitisalsoahistoryoftheundermininganddestructionofallthisgreatgrowth,sonoble,sobeautiful,bytyrannyinchurchandstate——tyrannyoverbodyandmind,heartandsoul。Asimple,thoughtfulaccountofthisevolutionoftheformergloryofSpain,andthenofthecausesofherdeclinetoherpresentcondition,wouldbefullofsuggestionsforfruitfulthoughtregardingpolitics,religion,science,literature,andart。Towritesuchahistorywasthebestofmydreams。Perhaps,hadIbeensentin1879asministertoMadridinsteadoftoBerlin,Imightatleasthavemadeanefforttobeginit,and,whethersuccessfulornot,mighthaveledothermentocontinueit。Itisnowtoolateforme,butI

  stillhopethatourcountrywillsupplysomemantoundertakeit。

  Whoevershallwritesuchabookinanhonest,broad,andimpartialspiritwillgainnotonlyhonorforhiscountryandhimself,butwillrenderagreatservicetomankind。

  Inclosingthischapteron\"PlansandProjects,ExecutedandUnexecuted,\"Iknowwellthatmyconfessionswilldomenogoodintheeyesofmanywhoshallreadthem。ItwillbesaidthatI

  attemptedtoomanythings。InmitigationofsuchajudgmentImaysaythattheconditionsofAmericanlifeinthesecondhalfofthecenturyjustclosedhavebeenverydifferentfromthoseinmostothercountries。Ithasbeenabuildingperiod,aperiodofreformsnecessitatedbytherapidgrowthofournationoutofearlierconditionsandlimitations。Everythinkingmanwhohasfeltanyresponsibilityhasnecessarilybeenobligedtotakepartinmanyenterprisesofvarioussorts:necessaryworkhasaboundedandhasbeenabsolutelyforceduponhim。Ithasbeenaperiodinwhichamancouldnotwelldevotehimselfentirelytothedativecase。Besidesthis,sofarasconcernsmyself,Ihadmuchpracticaladministrativeworktodo,wasplungedintothemidstofitattwouniversitiesandatvariouspostsinthediplomaticservice,tosaynothingofmanyotherduties,sothatmyplanswereconstantlyinterferedwith。Likemanyothersduringthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury,Ihavebeenobligedtoobeytheinjunction,\"Dotheworkwhichliethnearestthee。\"IthashappenedmorethanoncethatwhenallhasbeenreadyforsomeworkwhichIgreatlydesiredtodo,andwhichIhopedmightbeofuse,Ihavebeensuddenlydrawnofftoofficialdutiesbyvirtuallyanabsolutecommand。Taketwoexamplesoutofmany:I

  hadbroughtmylecturesonGermanhistorytogether,hadcollectedamassofmaterialforputtingthemintofinalshapeasa\"HistoryoftheBuildingoftheNewGermany,\"andhadwrittentwochapters,whensuddenlycamethesummonsfromPresidentClevelandtotakepartintheVenezuelaCommission,——asummonswhichitwasimpossibletodecline。Forayearthisnewworkforbadeacontinuanceoftheold;andjustasIwasagainfreecametheBryanefforttocapturethePresidency,which,inmyopinion,wouldhaveresultedinwide—spreadmiseryathomeandindishonortotheAmericannamethroughouttheworld。MostreluctantlythenIthrewdownmychosenworkanddevotedmytimetowhatseemedtometobeapoliticalduty。ThenfollowedmyappointmenttotheBerlinEmbassy,whichcouldnotbedeclined;andjustattheperiodwhenIhopedtosecureleisureatBerlinforcontinuingthepreparationofmybookonGermany,therecamedutiesatTheHagueConferencewhichtookmytimefornearlyayear。Itis,perhaps,unwiseformethustomakeacleanbreastofit,——\"quis’excuse,s’accuse\";butIhavesomethingotherthanexcusestomake:Imayhonestlypleadbeforemyoldfriendsandstudentswhoshallreadthisbookthatmylifehasbeenmainlydevotedtoworthywork;thatIcanlookbackupontheleadingthingsinitwithsatisfaction;that,whetherasregardsreligion,politics,education,orthepublicserviceingeneral,itwillbefoundnotamatterofunrelatedshredsandpatches,buttohavebeendevelopedinobediencetoawell—definedlineofpurpose。I

  reviewthemainthingsalongthislinewiththankfulness:First,myworkattheUniversityofMichigan,whichenabledmetodosomethingtowardpreparingthewayforabettersystemofhighereducationintheUnitedStates;next,myworkintheNewYorkStateSenate,whichenabledmetoaideffectivelyindevelopingtheschoolsystemintheState,inestablishingahealthdepartmentinitsmetropolis,inpromotinggoodlegislationinvariousfields;andinsecuringthecharterofCornellUniversity;next,mypartinfoundingCornellUniversityandinmaintainingitformorethantwentyyears;next,thepreparationofabookwhich,whateveritsshortcomingsandhoweverdeprecatedbymanygoodmen,has,asIbelieve,doneservicetoscience,toeducation,andtoreligion;next,manyspeeches,articles,pamphlets,whichhaveaidedinthedevelopmentofrightreasononpolitical,financial,andsocialquestions;and,finally,theopportunitygivenmeatacriticalperiodtoaidinrestoringandmaintaininggoodrelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandGermany,andinestablishingtheinternationalarbitrationtribunalofTheHague。Isaythesethingsnotboastingly,butreverently。Ihavesoughttofightthegoodfight;Ihavesoughttokeepthefaith,——faithinaPowerintheuniversegoodenoughtomaketruth—seekingwise,andstrongenoughtomaketruth—tellingeffective,——faithintheriseofmanratherthaninthefallofman,——faithinthegradualevolutionandultimateprevalenceofrightreasonamongmen。SomuchIhopetobepardonedforgivingasanapologiaprovitamea。

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