nd。〃
〃And yet； during the wars undertaken by the Revolution； patriotism〃
〃Yes； we worked wonders at the time of the Revolution；〃 said Benassis； interrupting Genestas； 〃but only twenty years later； in 1814； our patriotism was extinct； while； in former times； a religious impulse moved France and Europe to fling themselves upon Asia a dozen times in the course of a century。〃
〃Maybe it is easier for two nations to come to terms when the strife has arisen out of some question of material interests；〃 said the justice of the peace； 〃while wars undertaken with the idea of supporting dogmas are bound to be interminable； because the object can never be clearly defined。〃
〃Well； sir； you are not helping any one to fish！〃 put in Jacquotte； who had removed the soup with Nicolle's assistance。 Faithful to her custom； Jacquotte herself always brought in every dish one after another； a plan which had its drawbacks； for it compelled gluttonous folk to over…eat themselves； and the more abstemious； having satisfied their hunger at an early stage； were obliged to leave the best part of the dinner untouched。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the cure； with a glance at the justice of the peace； 〃how can you allege that religious wars have had no definite aim？ Religion in olden times was such a powerful binding force； that material interests and religious questions were inseparable。 Every soldier； therefore； knew quite well what he was fighting for。〃
〃If there has been so much fighting about religion；〃 said Genestas； 〃God must have built up the system very perfunctorily。 Should not a divine institution impress men at once by the truth that is in it？〃
All the guests looked at the cure。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said M。 Janvier； 〃religion is something that is felt and that cannot be defined。 We cannot know the purpose of the Almighty； we are no judges of the means He employs。〃
〃Then； according to you； we are to believe in all your rigmaroles；〃 said Genestas； with the easy good…humor of a soldier who has never given a thought to these things。
〃The Catholic religion； better than any other； resolves men's doubts and fears； but even were it otherwise； I might ask you if you run any risks by believing in its truths。〃
〃None worth speaking of；〃 answered Genestas。
〃Good！ and what risks do you not run by not believing？ But let us talk of the worldly aspect of the matter； which most appeals to you。 The finger of God is visible in human affairs； see how He directs them by the hand of His vicar on earth。 How much men have lost by leaving the path traced out for them by Christianity！ So few think of reading Church history； that erroneous notions deliberately sown among the people lead them to condemn the Church； yet the Church has been a pattern of perfect government such as men seek to establish to…day。 The principle of election made it for a long while the great political power。 Except the Catholic Church； there was no single religious institution which was founded upon liberty and equality。 Everything was ordered to this end。 The father…superior； the abbot； the bishop； the general of an order； and the pope were then chosen conscientiously for their fitness for the requirements of the Church。 They were the expression of its intelligence； of the thinking power of the Church； and blind obedience was therefore their due。 I will say nothing of the ways in which society has benefited by that power which has created modern nations and has inspired so many poems； so much music； so many cathedrals； statues； and pictures。 I will simply call your attention to the fact that your modern systems of popular election； of two chambers； and of juries all had their origin in provincial and oecumenical councils； and in the episcopate and college of cardinals； but there is this difference；the views of civilization held by our present…day philosophy seem to me to fade away before the sublime and divine conception of Catholic communion； the type of a universal social communion brought about by the word and the fact that are combined in religious dogma。 It would be very difficult for any modern political system； however perfect people may think it； to work once more such miracles as were wrought in those ages when the Church as the stay and support of the human intellect。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Genestas。
〃Because； in the first place； if the principle of election is to be the basis of a system； absolute equality among the electors is a first requirement； they ought to be 'equal quantities；' things which modern politics will never bring about。 Then； great social changes can only be effected by means of some common sentiment so powerful that it brings men into concerted action； while latter…day philosophism has discovered that law is based upon personal interest； which keeps men apart。 Men full of the generous spirit that watches with tender care over the trampled rights of the suffering poor； were more often found among the nations of past ages than in our generation。 The priesthood； also； which sprang from the middle classes； resisted material forces and stood between the people and their enemies。 But the territorial possessions of the Church and her temporal power； which seemingly made her position yet stronger； ended by crippling and weakening her action。 As a matter of fact； if the priest has possessions and privileges； he at once appears in the light of an oppressor。 He is paid by the State； therefore he is an official： if he gives his time； his life； his whole heart； this is a matter of course； and nothing more than he ought to do； the citizens expect and demand his devotion； and the spontaneous kindliness of his nature is dried up。 But； let the priest be vowed to poverty； let him turn to his calling of his own free will； let him stay himself on God alone； and have no resource on earth but the hearts of the faithful； and he becomes once more the missionary of America； he takes the rank of an apostle； he has all things under his feet。 Indeed； the burden of wealth drags him down； and it is only by renouncing everything that he gains dominion over all men's hearts。〃
M。 Janvier had compelled the attention of every one present。 No one spoke； for all the guests were thoughtful。 It was something new to hear such words as these in the mouth of a simple cure。
〃There is one serious error； M。 Janvier； among the truths to which you have given expression；〃 said Benassis。 〃As you know； I do not like to raise discussions on points of general interest which modern authorities and modern writers have called in question。 In my opinion； a man who has thought out a political system； and who is conscious that he has within him the power of applying it in practical politics； should keep his mind to himself； seize his opportunity and act； but if he dwells in peaceful obscurity as a simple citizen； is it not sheer lunacy to think to bring the great mass over to his opinion by means of individual discussions？ For all that； I am about to argue with you； my dear pastor； for I am speaking before sensible men； each of whom is accustomed always to bring his individual light to a common search for the truth。 My ideas may seem strange to you； but they are the outcome of much thought caused by the calamities of the last forty years。 Universal suffrage； which finds such favor in the sight of those persons who belong to the constitutional opposition； as it is called； was a capital institution in the Church； because （as you yourself have just pointed out； dear pastor） the individuals of whom the Church was composed were all well educated； disciplined by religious feeling； thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the same system； well aware of what they wanted and whither they were going。 But modern Liberalism rashly made war upon the prosperous government of the Bourbons； by means of ideas which； should they triumph； would be the ruin of France and of the Liberals themselves。 This is well known to the leaders of the Left； who are merely endeavoring to get the power into their own hands。 If （which Heaven forbid） the middle classes ranged under the banner of the opposition should succeed in overthrowing those social superiorities which are so repugnant to their vanity； another struggle would follow hard upon their victory。 It would not be very long before the middle classes in their turn would be looked upon by the people as a sort of noblesse； they would be a sorry kind of noblesse； it is true； but their wealth and privileges would seem so much the more hateful in the eyes of the people because they would have a closer vision of these things。 I do not say that the nation would come to grief in the struggle； but society would perish anew； for the day of triumph of a suffering people is always brief； and involves disorders of the worst kind。 There would be no truce in a desperate strife arising out of an inherent or acquired difference of opinion among the electors。 The less enlightened and more numerous portion would sweep away social inequalities； thanks to a system in which votes are reckoned by count and not by weight。 Hence it follows that a government is never more strongly organized； and as a consequence is never more perfect than when it has been established for the protection of Privilege of the most restricted kind。