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the world and the newspapers rather than books.
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I most gladly accept this reproach. The manifold facts of the journals and the realities of the world are far
more instructive than philosophical lucubrations such as theRevue is stuffed with.
Philosophers are beginning to see the puerility of such reproaches. It was certainly of the forty volumes
of this fastidious publication that Mr. William James was thinking when he wrote that all these
dissertations simply represented a string of facts clumsily observed and a few quarrelsome discussions.
Although he is the author of the best known treatise on psychology extant, the eminent thinker realises
the fragility of a science that oozes metaphysical criticism at every joint. For more than twenty years I
have tried to interest psychologists in the study of realities, but the stream of university metaphysics is
hardly yet turned aside, although it has lost its former force
As an instance of the depth of this hereditary love of the people for its kings, Michelet relates the
following fact, which occurred in the reign of Louis XV.: When it was known in Paris that Louis XV.,
who had left for the army, was detained ill at Metz, it was night. People got up and ran tumultuously
hither and thither without knowing where they were going; the churches were opened in the middle of the
night . . . people assembled at every cross-road, jostling and questioning one another without knowing
what they were after. In several churches the priest who was reciting the prayer for the king's health was
stopped by his tears, and the people replied by sobs and cries. . . . The courier who brought the news of
his convalescence was embraced and almost stifled; people kissed his horse, and led him in triumph. . . .
Every street resounded with a cry of joy: `The king is healed.'
Napoleon naturally often overruled the Council of State, but by no means always did so. In one instance,
reported in theMmorial de Sainte-Hlene , he was the only one of his own opinion, and accepted that of
the majority in the following terms: Gentlemen, matters are decided here by majority, and being alone, I
must give way; but I declare that in my conscience I yield only to form. You have reduced me to silence,
but in no way convinced me.
Another day the Emperor, interrupted three times in the expression of his opinion, addressed himself to
the speaker who had just interrupted him: Sir, I have not yet finished; I beg you to allow me to continue.
After all, it seems to me that every one has a perfect right to express his opinion here.
The Emperor, contrary to the accepted opinion, was so far from absolute, and so easy with his Council
of State, that he often resumed a discussion, or even annulled a decision, because one of the members of
the Council had since, in private, given him fresh reasons, or had urged that the Emperor's personal
opinion had influenced the majority.
We may judge of the recent evolution of ideas upon this point by the following passage from a speech by
M. Jaurs, delivered in the Chamber of Deputies: The greatness of to-day is built of the efforts of past
centuries. France is not contained in a day nor in an epoch, but in the succession of all days, all periods,
all her twilights and all her dawns.
After the publication of an article of mine concerning legislative illusions, I received from one of our most
eminent politicians, M. Boudenot the senator, a letter from which I extract the following passage:
Twenty years passed in the Chamber and the Senate have shown me how right you are. How many
times I have heard my colleagues say: `The Government ought to prevent this, order that,' &c. What
would you have? there are fourteen centuries of monarchical atavism in our blood.
This disorder is the same in all the Government departments Interesting examples will be found in a
report of M. Dausset to the Municipal Council:--
The service of the public highways, which ought above all to be noted for its rapid execution, is, on the
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contrary, the very type of red-tape, bureaucratic, and ink-slinging administration, possessing men and
money and wasting both in tasks which are often useless, for lack of order, initiative, and method--in a
word, of organisation.
Speaking then of the directors of departments, each of whom works as he pleases, and after his own
fashion, he adds:--
These important persons completely ignore one another; they prepare and execute their plans without
knowing anything of what their neighbours are doing; there is no one above them to group and
co-ordinate their work. This is why a road is often torn up, repaired, and then torn up again a few days
later, because the departments dealing with the supply of water, gas, electricity, and the sewers are
mutually jealous, and never attempt to work together. This anarchy and indiscipline naturally cost
enormous sums of money, and a private firm which operated in this manner would soon find itself
bankrupt.
Population of the Great Powers:--
1789. 1906.
Russia ... ... 28,000,000 129,000,000
Germany ... ... 28,000,000 57,000,000
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