Francis Parkman 217 



cific union of partially independent states, covering 

 this vast continent from ocean to ocean. Within 

 that rigid and rigorous bureaucratic system there 

 was no room for spontaneous individuality, no room 

 for local self-government, and no chance for a flexi- 

 ble federalism to grow up. A well-known phrase 

 of Louis XIV. was, " The state is myself." That 

 phrase represented his ideal. It was approxi- 

 mately true in Old France, realized as far as sun- 

 dry adverse conditions would allow. The Grand 

 Monarch intended that in New France it should 

 be absolutely true. Upon that fresh soil was to 

 be built up a pure monarchy without concession to 

 human weaknesses and limitations. It was a pet 

 scheme of Louis XIV., and never did a philan- 

 thropic world-mender contemplate his grotesque 

 phalanstery or pantarchy with greater pleasure 

 than this master of kingcraft looked forward to 

 the construction of a perfect Christian state in 

 America. 



The pages of our great historian are full of ex- 

 amples which prove that if the French idea failed 

 of realization, and the state it founded was over- 

 whelmed, it was not from any lack of lofty quali- 

 ties in individual Frenchmen. In all the history 

 of the American continent no names stand higher 

 than some of the French names. For courage, 



