23/07/08 15:39:22.34 yW7k27040.net
In time, however, a democratic republic came to occupy a large portion of the earth's surface, and made itself felt as one of the most powerful members of the community of nations; and elective and responsible government became subject to the observations and criticisms which wait upon a great existing fact.
→which wait upon a great existing fact.の意味がわからん
現代英語版では "that any great existing fact is likely to draw on itself."
But when the heat of the conflict was over, without giving a complete victory to any party, and each church or sect was reduced to limit its hopes to retaining possession of the ground it already occupied; minorities, seeing that they had no chance of becoming majorities, were under the necessity of pleading to those whom they could not convert, for permission to differ.
→pleading to those whom they could not convert, for permission to differ.の意味がわからん
現代英語版では"minorities were compelled to plead to those whom they could not convert for permission to differ"
異端派が主流派に認めてもらうようお願いするということ？