Chapter 2

           

           Whatforcemovesthenations?

           Biographicalhistoriansandhistoriansofseparatenationsunderstandthisforceasapowerinherentinheroesandrulers.IntheirnarrationeventsoccursolelybythewillofaNapoleon,andAlexander,oringeneralofthepersonstheydescribe.Theanswersgivenbythiskindofhistoriantothequestionofwhatforcecauseseventstohappenaresatisfactoryonlyaslongasthereisbutonehistoriantoeachevent.Assoonashistoriansofdifferentnationalitiesandtendenciesbegintodescribethesameevent,therepliestheygiveimmediatelyloseallmeaning,forthisforceisunderstoodbythemallnotonlydifferentlybutofteninquitecontradictoryways.OnehistoriansaysthataneventwasproducedbyNapoleon’spower,anotherthatitwasproducedbyAlexander’s,athirdthatitwasduetothepowerofsomeotherperson.Besidesthis,historiansofthatkindcontradicteachotherevenintheirstatementastotheforceonwhichtheauthorityofsomeparticularpersonwasbased.Thiers,aBonapartist,saysthatNapoleon’spowerwasbasedonhisvirtueandgenius.Lanfrey,aRepublican,saysitwasbasedonhistrickeryanddeceptionofthepeople.Sothehistoriansofthisclass,bymutuallydestroyingoneanother’spositions,destroytheunderstandingoftheforcewhichproducesevents,andfurnishnoreplytohistory’sessentialquestion.

           Writersofuniversalhistorywhodealwithallthenationsseemtorecognizehowerroneousisthespecialisthistorians’viewoftheforcewhichproducesevents.

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