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ms to me that we have not paid sufficient attention to the fact that the Revolution of 1789； instigated by the same causes； animated by the same spirit； triumphing by the same struggles； was consummated in Italy four centuries ago。 Italy was the first to sound the signal of war against feudalism； France has followed； Spain and England are beginning to move； the rest still sleep。 If a grand example should be given to the world； the day of trial would be much abridged。
Note the following summary of the revolutions of property； from the days of the Roman Empire down to the present time：
1。 Fifth century。 Barbarian invasions； division of the lands of the empire into independent portions or freeholds。
2。 From the fifth to the eighth century。Gradual concentration of freeholds； or transformation of the small freeholds into fiefs； feuds； tenures； &c。 Large properties； small possessions。 Charlemagne （771…814） decrees that all freeholds are dependent upon the king of France。
3。 From the eighth to the tenth century。The relation between the crown and the superior dependents is broken； the latter becoming freeholders； while the smaller dependents cease to recognize the king； and adhere to the nearest suzerain。 Feudal system。
4。 Twelfth century。Movement of the serfs towards liberty； emancipation of the communes。
5。 Thirteenth century。Abolition of personal right； and of the feudal system in Italy。 Italian Republics。
6。 Seventeenth century。Abolition of feudalism in France during Richelieu's ministry。 Despotism。 7。 1789。Abolition of all privileges of birth； caste； provinces； and corporations； equality of persons and of rights。 French democracy。
8。 1830。The principle of concentration inherent in individual property is REMARKED。 Development of the idea of association。
The more we reflect upon this series of transformations and changes； the more clearly we see that they were necessary in their principle； in their manifestations； and in their result。
It was necessary that inexperienced conquerors； eager for liberty； should divide the Roman Empire into a multitude of estates； as free and independent as themselves。
It was necessary that these men； who liked war even better than liberty； should submit to their leaders； and； as the freehold represented the man； that property should violate property。
It was necessary that； under the rule of a nobility always idle when not fighting； there should grow up a body of laborers； who； by the power of production； and by the division and circulation of wealth； would gradually gain control over commerce； industry； and a portion of the land； and who； having become rich； would aspire to power and authority also。
It was necessary； finally； that liberty and equality of rights having been achieved； and individual property still existing； attended by robbery； poverty； social inequality； and oppression； there should be an inquiry into the cause of this evil； and an idea of universal association formed； whereby； on condition of labor； all interests should be protected and consolidated。
〃Evil； when carried too far；〃 says a learned jurist； 〃cures itself； and the political innovation which aims to increase the power of the State； finally succumbs to the effects of its own work。 The Germans； to secure their independence； chose chiefs； and soon they were oppressed by their kings and noblemen。 The monarchs surrounded themselves with volunteers； in order to control the freemen； and they found themselves dependent upon their proud vassals。 The _missi dominici_ were sent into the provinces to maintain the power of the emperors； and to protect the people from the oppressions of the noblemen； and not only did they usurp the imperial power to a great extent； but they dealt more severely with the inhabitants。 The freemen became vassals； in order to get rid of military service and court duty； and they were immediately involved in all the personal quarrels of their seigniors； and compelled to do jury duty in their courts。 。 。 。 The kings protected the cities and the communes； in the hope of freeing them from the yoke of the grand vassals； and of rendering their own power more absolute； and those same communes have； in several European countries； procured the establishment of a constitutional power； are now holding royalty in check； and are giving rise to a universal desire for political reform。〃Meyer： Judicial Institutions of Europe。
In recapitulation。
What was feudalism？ A confederation of the grand seign iors against the villeins； and against the king。＇1＇ What is constitutional government？ A confederation of the bourgeoisie against the laborers； and against the king。＇2＇
＇1＇ Feudalism was； in spirit and in its providential destiny； a long protest of the human personality against the monkish communism with which Europe； in the middle ages； was overrun。 After the orgies of Pagan selfishness； societycarried to the opposite extreme by the Christian religionrisked its life by unlimited self…denial and absolute indifference to the pleasures of the world。 Feudalism was the balance…weight which saved Europe from the combined influence of the religious communities and the Manlchean sects which had sprung up since the fourth century under different names and in different countries。 Modern civilization is indebted to feudalism for the definitive establishment of the person； of marriage； of the family； and of country。 （See； on this subject； Guizot； 〃History of Civilization in Europe。〃）
＇2＇ This was made evident in July； 1830； and the years which followed it； when the electoral bourgeoisie effected a revolution in order to get control over the king； and suppressed the emeutes in order to restrain the people。 The bourgeoisie； through the jury； the magistracy； its position in the army； and its municipal despotism； governs both royalty and the people。 It is the bourgeoisie which； more than any other class； is conservative and retrogressive。 It is the bourgeoisie which makes and unmakes ministries。 It is the bourgeoisie which has destroyed the influence of the Upper Chamber； and which will dethrone the King whenever he shall become unsatisfactory to it。 It is to please the bourgeoisie that royalty makes itself unpopular。 It is the bourgeoisie which is troubled at the hopes of the people； and which hinders reform。 The journals of the bourgeoisie are the ones which preach morality and religion to us； while reserving scepticism and indifference for themselves； which attack personal government； and favor the denial of the electoral privilege to those who have no property。 The bourgeoisie will accept any thing rather than the emancipation of the proletariat。 As soon as it thinks its privileges threatened； it will unite with royalty； and who does not know that at this very moment these two antagonists have suspended their quarrels？ 。 。 。 It has been a question of property。
How did feudalism end？ In the union of the communes and the royal authority。 How will the bourgeoisie aristocracy end？ In the union of the proletariat and the sovereign power。
What was the immediate result of the struggle of the communes and the king against the seigniors？ The monarchical unity of Louis XIV。 What will be the result of the struggle of the proletariat and the sovereign power combined against the bourgeoisie？ The absolute unity of the nation and the government。
It remains to be seen whether the nation； one and supreme； will be represented in its executive and central power by ONE； by FIVE； by ONE HUNDRED； or ONE THOUSAND； that is； it remains to be seen； whether the royalty of the barricades intends to maintain itself by the people； or without the people； and whether Louis Philippe wishes his reign to be the most famous in all history。
I have made this statement as brief； but at the same time as accurate as I could； neglecting facts and details； that I might give the more attention to the economical relations of society。 For the study of history is like the study of the human organism； just as the latter has its system； its organs； and its functions； which can be treated separately； so the former has its ensemble； its instruments； and its causes。 Of course I do n