ABSTRACT
The application to democratic and socialistic ideas of the preceding considerations shows that it matters little that these ideas have no defensible basis. This chapter considers from a philosophical point of view various consequences of the democratic evolution whose course we see accelerating. Examining certain results of the democratic doctrines, the chapter shows that the power of these is no less than that of the Church. The evolution of democratic ideas has thus produced not only the political results already mentioned, but also a considerable effect upon the mentality of modern men. The slowness of our actual evolution may be seen if we compare the principal elements of our social life—commerce, industry, &c.—with those of other nations. The progress of other nations—of the Germans especially—then appears enormous, while our own has been very slow. In France the democracy is practically non-existent save in speeches.
