When a man speaks of Modern Europe, he is generally taken to mean the
Europe of steam and electricity. As a matter of fact, Modern Europe
really dates back to about the middle of the last century, when certain
ideas which we call “modern” first began to be promulgated. And these
ideas were not, as in this expression “Modern Europe” it is tacitly
supposed, merely scientific; they were not only concerned with steam and
electricity; they were social. And thus, when we use the expression,
if we are to use it, in this particular sense, we should remember that
it means, not only that the whole world is netted with railways and
telegraphs, but also that, speaking generally, the European races are
no longer governed by kings or aristocracies, but by middle-classes or,
as some prefer to put it, by peoples. And this, as I take it, is far
the more important fact of the two. I will go further, and say that it
is the most important fact of our civilization—nay, that it _is_ our
civilization, and that, therefore, whoever would seek to understand the
meaning of any movement, great or small, which is taking place in our
civilization, must seek it here, and here only! Our civilization is our
government by the Middle-class or, as some prefer to put it, by the
People. But that these individuals who prefer to put it so are, let us
say, if not mistaken, at any rate inaccurate, is precisely what I want
in this little article to try to show, and in as striking a manner as I
can, so that, not only may I try to do something towards making clear
to us the real deep true significance of a much misunderstood movement,
but also that of a much more misunderstood power—the Middle-class of the
European races. I do not propose to go through my subject thoroughly: to
do so would require more time and more space than any editor could afford
me. I shall merely touch on one phase of the great spiritual movement
which is at present permeating the European races, and then turn to
consider another phase of it—a phase which is of peculiar interest to us
of England, America, and Australia.