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in England； whereas with us all is slow； and yet the English are slow
by nature； while we are impatient。 With them money is bold and
actively employed； with us it is timid and suspicious。 What Monsieur
Grossetete has said of the industrial losses which the hoarding
peasantry inflict on France has its proof in a fact I will show to you
in two words： English capital； by its perpetual turning over； has
created ten thousand millions of manufacturing and interest…bearing
property； whereas French capital； which is far more abundant； has not
created one tenth of that amount。〃
〃And that is all the more extraordinary；〃 said Roubaud； 〃because they
are lymphatic； and we； as a general thing； are sanguine and
energetic。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur；〃 said Clousier； 〃there you touch a great question；
which ought to be studied： How to find institutions properly adapted
to repress the temperament of a people！ Assuredly Cromwell was a great
legislator。 He alone made the England of to…day； by inventing the
'Navigation Act；' which has made the English enemies of all the world；
and infused into them a ferocious pride and self…conceit； which is
their mainstay。 But； in spite of their Malta citadel； if France and
Russia will only comprehend the part the Mediterranean and the Black
Sea ought to be made to play in the future； the road to Asia through
Egypt or by the Euphrates； made feasible by recent discoveries； will
kill England； as in former times the discovery of the Cape of Good
Hope killed Venice。〃
〃Not one word of God's providence in all this！〃 cried the rector。
〃Monsieur Clousier and Monsieur Roubaud are oblivious of religion。 How
is it with you； monsieur？〃 he added； turning to Gerard。
〃Protestant；〃 put in Grossetete。
〃You guessed it；〃 cried Veronique； looking at the rector as she took
Clousier's arm to return to the salon。
The prejudice Gerard's appearance excited against him had been quickly
dispelled； and the three notables congratulated themselves on so good
an acquisition。
〃Unfortunately；〃 said Monsieur Bonnet； 〃there is a cause of antagonism
between Russia and the Catholic countries which border the
Mediterranean； in the very unimportant schism which separates the
Greek religion from the Latin religion； and it is a great misfortune
for humanity。〃
〃We all preach our own saint；〃 said Madame Graslin。 〃Monsieur
Grossetete thinks of the lost millions； Monsieur Clousier； of the
overthrow of rights； the doctor here regards legislation as a question
of temperaments； and the rector sees an obstacle to the good
understanding of France and Russia in religion。〃
〃Add to that； madame；〃 said Gerard； 〃that I see； in the hoarding of
capital by the peasant and the small burgher； the postponement of the
building of railroads in France。〃
〃Then what is it you all want？〃 she asked。
〃We want the wise State councillors who； under the Emperor； reflected
on the laws； and a legislative body elected by the intelligence of the
country as well as by the land…owners； whose only function would be to
oppose bad legislation and capricious wars。 The Chamber； as
constituted to…day； will proceed； as you will soon see； to govern； and
that is the first step to legal anarchy。〃
〃Good God！〃 cried the rector； in a flush of sacred patriotism； 〃how
can such enlightened minds as these；〃 and he motioned to Clousier；
Roubaud； and Gerard； 〃how can they see evil so clearly and suggest
remedies without first looking within and applying a remedy to
themselves？ All of you； who represent the attacked classes； recognize
the necessity of the passive obedience of the masses of the State；
like that of soldiers during a war； you want the unity of power； and
you desire that it shall never be brought into question。 What England
has obtained by the development of her pride and self…interest （a part
of her creed） cannot be obtained in France but through sentiments due
to Catholicism； and none of you are Catholics！ Here am I； a priest；
obliged to leave my own ground and argue with arguers。 How can you
expect the masses to become religious and obedient when they see
irreligion and want of discipline above them？ All peoples united by
any faith whatever will inevitably get the better of peoples without
any faith at all。 The law of public interest； which gives birth to
patriotism； is destroyed by the law of private interest； which it
sanctions； but which gives birth to selfishness。 There is nothing
solid and durable but that which is natural； and the natural thing in
human policy is the Family。 The family must be the point of departure
for all institutions。 A universal effect proves a universal cause； and
what you have just been setting forth as evident on all sides comes
from the social principle itself； which is now without force because
it has taken for its basis independence of thought and will； and such
freedom is the parent of individualism。 To make happiness depend on
the stability； intelligence； and capacity of all is not as wise as to
make happiness depend on the stability and intelligence of
institutions and the capacity of a single head。 It is easier to find
wisdom in one man than in a whole nation。 Peoples have heart and no
eyes； they feel； and see not。 Governments ought to see； and not
determine anything through sentiment。 There is； therefore； an evident
contradiction between the impulses of the multitude and the action of
power whose function it is to direct and unify those impulses。 To meet
with a great prince is certainly a rare chance （to use your term）； but
to trust to a whole assembly； even though it is composed of honest men
only； is folly。 France is committing that folly at this moment。 Alas！
you are just as much convinced of that as I am。 If all right…minded
men； like yourselves； would only set an example around them； if all
intelligent hands would raise； in the great republic of souls； the
altars of the one Church which has set the interests of humanity
before her； we might again behold in France the miracles our fathers
did here。〃
〃But the difficulty is； monsieur；〃 said Gerard；〃if I may speak to
you with the freedom of the confessional；I look upon faith as a lie
we tell to ourselves； on hope as a lie we tell about the future； and
on charity as a trick for children to keep them good by the promise of
sugar…plums。〃
〃Still； we sleep better for being rocked by hope； monsieur；〃 said
Madame Graslin。
This speech stopped Roubaud； who was about to reply； its effect was
strengthened by a look from Grossetete and the rector。
〃Is it our fault；〃 said Clousier； 〃that Jesus Christ had not the time
to formulate a government in accordance with his moral teaching； as
did Moses and Confucius； the two greatest human law…givers？witness
the existence； as a nation； of the Jews and Chinese； the former in
spite of their dispersion over the whole earth； and the latter in
spite of their isolation。〃
〃Ah！ dear me！ what work you are cutting out for me！〃 cried the rector
naively。 〃But I shall triumph； I shall convert you all！ You are much
nearer to the true faith than you think you are。 Truth always lurks
behind falsehood； go on a step； turn round； and then you'll see it。〃
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