REPRESENTATIVE BODIES. 425 



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 simul 

 taneous with that conflict of authorities which caused this 

 decay. Says Sismondi, &quot;the war of investitures gave wing 

 to this universal spirit of liberty and patriotism in all the 

 municipalities of Lombardy, of Piedmont, Yenetia, Eomagna, 

 and Tuscany.&quot; 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. 



&quot;At the moment when Florence expelled the Medici, that republic 

 was bandied between three different parties. Savonarola took advan 

 tage 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. &quot; 



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

 the troubles accompanying the minority of Fernando IV. ; 

 and of the periodic assemblies subsequently formed by 

 deputies from certain towns (which met without authority of 

 the Government) we read that 



&quot; The desire of the Government to frustrate the aspiring schemes of 

 the Infantes 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 favoured 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 neces 

 sary suffrages.&quot; 



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 re-coloniza- 

 tioii of regions desolated during the prolonged contests of 

 Moors and Christians; and that these &quot; poblaciones,&quot; or com 

 munities of colonists, which, scattered over these vast tracts 



