Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/430

 424 THE KEVOLUTIONS. BOOK IV. magistrates preserved their ancient names. Athens still had its archons, and Rome its consuls. Xor was anything changed in the ceremonies of the public re- ligion ; the repasts of the prytaneum, the sacrifices at the opening of the public assembly, the auspices and the prayers, — all were preserved. It is quite common with man, when he rejects old institutions, to wish to preserve their exterior forms. In reality all was changed. Neither institutions, nor laws, nor beliefs, nor manners were in this new period what they had been in the preceding. The old system disappeared, carrying with it the rigorous rules which it had established in all things ; a new order of things was established, and human life changed its aspect. During long ages religion had been the sole princi- ple of government. Another principle had to be found capable of replacing it, and which, like it, might gov- ern human institutions, and keep them as much as pos- sible clear of fluctuations and conflicts. The principle upon which the governments of cities were founded thenceforth was public interest. "We must observe this new dogma which then made its appearance in the minds of men and in history. Heretofore the superior rule whence social order was. derived was not interest, but religion. The duty of performing the rites of worship had been the social bond. From this religious necessity were derived, for some the right to command, for others the obligation to- obey. From this had come the rules of justice and of legal procedure, those of public deliberations and those of war. Cities did not ask if the institutions which they adoi:)ted were useful ; these institutions were adopted because religion had wished it thus. Neither interest nor convenience had contributed to establish them..