584 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ance with their wishes. Practically, therefore, it was the growing 

 industrial power which then produced, and thereafter preserved, the 

 democratic organization. Turning to Italy, we first note that the 

 establishment of the small republics, referred to in a preceding chapter 

 as having been simultaneous with the decay of imperial power, may 

 here be again referred to more specifically as having been simultaneous 

 with that conflict of authorities which caused this decay. Says Sis- 

 mondi, " The war of investitures gave wing to this universal spirit of 

 liberty and patriotism in all the municipalities of Lombardy, of Pied- 

 mont, Venetia, Romagna, and Tuscany." In other words, while the 

 struggle between emperor and pope absorbed the strength of both, it 

 became possible for the people to assert themselves. And at a later 

 time Florence furnished an instance similar in nature if somewhat 

 different in form. 



At the moment when "Florence expelled the Medici, that repuhlic was 

 bandied between three different parties." Savonarola took advantage of this 

 state of affairs to urge that the people should reserve their power to themselves, 

 and exercise it by a council. His proposition was agreed to, and this " council 

 was declared sovereign, on the 1st of July, 1495." 



In the case of Spain, again, popular power increased during the 

 troubles accompanying the minority of Fernando IV ; and of the pe- 

 riodic assemblies subsequently formed by deputies from certain towns 

 (which met without authority of the government) we read that 



The desire of the Government to frustrate the aspiring schemes of the In- 

 fantes de la Cerda, and their numerous adherents, made the attachment of these 

 assemblies indispensable. The disputes during the minority of Alfonso XI more 

 than ever favored the pretensions of the third estate. Each of the candidates 

 for the regency paid assiduous court to the municipal authorities, in the hope of 

 obtaining the necessary suffrages. 



And how all this was consequent on industrial development appears 

 in the facts that many, if not most, of these associated towns had 

 arisen during a preceding age by the recolonization of regions deso- 

 lated during the prolonged contests of Moors and Christians ; and that 

 these poblaclones, or communities of colonists, which, scattered over 

 these vast tracts, grew into prosperous towns, had been formed of 

 serfs and artisans to whom various privileges, including those of self- 

 government, were given by royal charter. With which several exam- 

 ples must be joined the example familiar to all. For it was during 

 the struggle between king and barons, when the factions were nearly 

 balanced, and when the town-populations had been by trade so far 

 increased that their aid was important, that they came to play a notice- 

 able part, first as allies in war and afterward as sharers in government. 

 It can not be doubted that, when summoning to the Parliament of 1265 

 not only knights of the shire but also deputies from cities and bor- 

 oughs, Simon de Montfort was prompted by the desire to strengthen 



