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The Prior of St。 Mark now appeared in a double light；as a
political leader and as a popular preacher。 Let us first consider
him in his secular aspect； as a revolutionist and statesman；for
the admirable constitution he had a principal hand in framing
entitles him to the dignity of statesman rather than politician。
If his cause had not been good； and if he had not appealed to both
enlightened and patriotic sentiments； he would have been a
demagogue； for a demagogue and a mere politician are synonymous；
and a clerical demagogue is hideous。
Savonarola began his political career with terrible denunciations；
from his cathedral pulpit； of the political evils of his day； not
merely in Florence but throughout Italy。 He detested tyrants and
usurpers； and sought to conserve such liberties as the Florentines
had once enjoyed。 He was not only the preacher； he was also the
patriot。 Things temporal were mixed up with things spiritual in
his discourses。 In his detestation of the tyranny of the Medici；
and his zeal to recover for the Florentines their lost liberties；
he even hailed the French armies of Charles VIII。 as deliverers；
although they had crossed the Alps to invade and conquer Italy。 If
the gates of Florence were open to them； they would expel the
Medici。 So he stimulated the people to league with foreign enemies
in order to recover their liberties。 This would have been high
treason in Richelieu's time；as when the Huguenots encouraged the
invasion of the English on the soil of France。 Savonarola was a
zealot； and carried the same spirit into politics that he did into
religion；such as when he made a bonfire of what he called
vanities。 He had an end to carry： he would use any means。 There
is apt to be a spirit of expediency in men consumed with zeal；
determined on success。 To the eye of the Florentine reformer； the
expulsion of the Medici seemed the supremest necessity； and if it
could be done in no other way than by opening the gates of his city
to the French invaders； he would open the gates。 Whatever he
commanded from the pulpit was done by the people； for he seemed to
have supreme control over them； gained by his eloquence as a
preacher。 But he did not abuse his power。 When the Medici were
expelled； he prevented violence； blood did not flow in the streets；
order and law were preserved。 The people looked up to him as their
leader； temporal as well as spiritual。 So he assembled them in the
great hall of the city； where they formally held a parlemento； and
reinstated the ancient magistrates。 But these were men without
experience。 They had no capacity to govern； and they were selected
without wisdom on the part of the people。 The people； in fact； had
not the ability to select their best and wisest men for rulers。
That is an evil inherent in all popular governments。 Does San
Francisco or New York send its greatest men to Congress？ Do not
our cities elect such rulers as the demagogues point out？ Do not
the few rule； even in a Congregational church？ If some commanding
genius； unscrupulous or wise or eloquent or full of tricks；
controls elections with us； much more easily could such a man as
Savonarola rule in Florence； where there were no political
organizations； no caucuses； no wirepullers； no other man of
commanding ability。 The only opinion…maker was this preacher； who
indicated the general policy to be pursued。 He left elections to
the people； and when these proved a failure； a new constitution
became a necessity。 But where were the men capable of framing a
constitution for the republic？ Two generations of political
slavery had destroyed political experience。 The citizens were as
incapable of framing a new constitution as the legislators of
France after they had decimated the nobility； confiscated the
Church lands； and cut off the head of the king。 The lawyers
disputed in the town hall； but accomplished nothing。
Their science amounted only to an analysis of human passion。 All
wanted a government entirely free from tyranny； all expected
impossibilities。 Some were in favor of a Venetian aristocracy； and
others of a pure democracy； yet none would yield to compromise；
without which no permanent political institution can ever be
framed。 How could the inexperienced citizens of Florence
comprehend the complicated relations of governments？ To make a
constitution that the world respects requires the highest maturity
of human wisdom。 It is the supremest labor of great men。 It took
the ablest man ever born among the Jews to give to them a national
polity。 The Roman constitution was the fruit of five hundred
years' experience。 Our constitution was made by the wisest； most
dignified； most enlightened body of statesmen that this country has
yet seen； and even they could not have made it without great mutual
concessions。 No ONE man could have made a constitution； however
great his talents and experience；not even a Jefferson or a
Hamilton；which the nation would have accepted。 It would have
been as full of defects as the legislation of Solon or Lycurgus or
the Abbe Sieyes。 But one man gave a constitution to the
Florentines； which they not only accepted； but which has been
generally admired for its wisdom； and that man was our Dominican
monk。 The hand he had in shaping that constitution not only proved
him to have been a man of great wisdom； but entitled him to the
gratitude of his countrymen as a benefactor。 He saw the vanity of
political science as it then existed； the incapacity of popular
leaders； and the sadness of a people drifting into anarchy and
confusion； and； strong in his own will and his sense of right； he
rose superior to himself； and directed the stormy elements of
passion and fear。 And this he did by his sermons from the pulpit；
for he did not descend； in person； into the stormy arena of
contending passions and interests。 He did not himself attend the
deliberations in the town hall； he was too wise and dignified a man
for that。 But he preached those principles and measures which he
wished to see adopted； and so great was the reverence for him that
the people listened to his instructions； and afterward deliberated
and acted among themselves。 He did not write out a code； but he
told the people what they should put into it。 He was the animating
genius of the city； his voice was obeyed。 He unfolded the theory
that the government of one man； in their circumstances； would
become tyrannical； and he taught the doctrine； then new； that the
people were the only source of power；that they alone had the
right to elect their magistrates。 He therefore recommended a
general government； which should include all citizens who had
intelligence； experience； and position；not all the people； but
such as had been magistrates； or their fathers before them。
Accordingly； a grand council was formed of three thousand citizens；
out of a population of ninety thousand who had reached the age of
twenty…nine。 These three thousand citizens were divided into three
equal bodies； each of which should constitute a council for six
months and no meeting was legal unless two…thirds of the members
were present。 This grand council appointed the magistrates。 But
another council was also recommended and adopted； of only eighty
citizens not under forty years of age；picked men； to be changed
every six months； whom the magistrates were bound to consult
weekly； and to whom was confided the appointment of some of the
higher officers of the State； like ambassadors to neighboring
States。 All laws proposed by the magistrates； or seigniory； had to
be ratified by this higher and selecter council。 The higher
council was a sort of Senate； the lower council were more like
Representatives。 But there was no universal suffrage。 The
clerical legislator knew well enough that only the better and more
intelligent part of the people were fit to vote； even in the
election of magistrates。 He seems to have foreseen the fatal rock
on which all popular institutions are in danger of being wrecked；
that no government is safe and respected when the people who make
it are ignorant and lawless。 So the constitution which Savonarola
gave was neither aristocratic nor democratic。 It resembled that of
Venice more than that of Athens； that of England more than that of
the United States。 Strictly universal suffrage is a Utopian dream
wherever a majority of the people are wicked and degraded。 Sooner
or later it threatens to plunge any nation； as nations now are；
into a whirlpool of dangers； even if Divine Providence may not
permit a nation to be stranded and wrecked altogether。 In the
politics of Savonarola we see great wisdom； and yet great sympathy
for freedom。 He would give the people all that they were fit for。
He would make all offices elective； but only by the suffrages of
the better part of the people。
But the Prior of St。 Mark did not co