Excerpt from An Introduction to the History of Modern Europe

Napoleonic period so far as is required to range in their places the most notable results of the Revolutionary movement. Two more chapters consider the changes in Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Scandinavia, Turkey, Servia, and Greece, from which the modern history of these countries takes its departure. The seventh Chapter describes the industrial revolution in England, which operated more than any other order of causes to change the conditions of political, social, and individual life throughout civilized communities. The eighth supple ments this account of modern industrialism by indicating in outline the mechanical progress to which the industrial revolution was mainly due, and by reviewing briefly the formation of the theory Of political economy, which was to assist in the development Of industrialism. The ninth chapter shows how inductive research attained to a success, which, without intermission, has led physical science to its present state of influence and power. The same chapter supplements the intellectual side Of this account by pointing out how the deeper problems of existence received a new statement in Germany, which, with the tendencies Of British thought, has governed speculation till our own day. In Germany, too, closely connected with the national regeneration, and rich in humanizing elements, occurred a literary revival which is the subject Of Chapter X. In England, also, literature entered on a new development, which enabled it to respond to the needs Of an expanded society, and to contribute to European culture. This subject is reviewed in Chapter XL; but the literary innovations in France, and some even in Germany, which fall within the chronological limits covered by the above events, are so manifestly characteristic Of the time Of reaction that it would have exceeded the purpose of this volume to have included them in the same survey.

A concluding chapter briefly comments on the results of the foregoing reviews, and demonstrates that the his torical problem Of our time far transcends the scope of the dictum that history is past politics and that politics are present history. The dominant order of changes is now, indeed, industrial. It is the striving of men to Obtain wealth and material comfort that in this age mainly determines the form and Objects of their political organization. It is this which sets the aims Of their self culture and the ideals Of their scientific research. What in past times was determined by reverence for God, the state, and the family, or by fear Of present or future punishment, is now for the most part controlled by the principles of co-operative production and distribution. We have, indeed, the ideas of religion for religion's sake, of art for art's sake, of self for self's sake, of culture for culture's sake. But only in a secondary manner do the ideas Of social perfection and individual development, of speculative truth and positive belief, influence now the policy which proximate utility dictates. Yet the period bears no resemblance to those moments of history when ease and luxury have been the guiding ends of a ruling few. The principle Of comfort and Opportunity for all has yet to be exhibited in its full meaning; but it is as clearly Of quite peculiar character as its realization is evidently the function of our age.

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