of history) was fought for
ideas, and ended in despotism. Does fighting for ideas mean despotism?
The French Revolution went directly to the root of the question. It
struck, as radicalism can never help but strike, at the very foundations
of society. Hence, in France, the abolition of institutions (the
safeguards of ideas), and the consequent check of the great principles
which the Revolution set out to establish. Thus it is that the French
Revolution has made itself the great example of history, warning nations
against the crude radicalisms of theorists. It is not enough to fight
for ideas--we must fight also for institutions. Yet society seems never
to learn the lesson which Nature never tires of repeating, that all true
growth is gradual. Political science must start with the first axiom of
natural science, that 'Nature acts by insensible gradations.' Radicalism
is not reform. Radicalism and conservatism must combine together to make
reform. An eminent divine and scholar lately illustrated the point thus:
'The arm of progressive power rests always on the fulcrum of stability.'
This statement is exhaustive, and sums up the case.

But let us examine the question of ideas a little more closely, and see
whether, indeed, it is the South or the North that is fighting for ideas
in this contest. And let us interpret ideas, according to the etymology
of the word, to mean those things which the mind _sees_, and the
conscience accepts and recognizes and _knows_, to be just elements, or
principles, of civilization. For it is only such ideas that call forth a
response from the mighty instincts of the masses. The common conscience
of mankind tests the ideas always, as the apostle teaches us to try the
spirits, 'whether they are of God.'

I. THE IDEA OF POLITICAL EQUALITY.

It will hardly be disputed that the great idea of the age is the
democratic idea, or the idea of political equality. It is the idea that
all men are kings, because equals: just as the highest idea of theology
is, at last, that all men are ordained to be priests unto God, The
problem of political philosophy is to make this idea a reality and fact.
Our institutions have this for their sublime mission. We are seeking to
demonstrate, in the American way, the essential truth of those ideas
which failed of their perfect fruit in France, because not rightly
organized and applied. America is the youngest and last-born of the
nations; and to her it has been intruste