The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-30
THE CENTENARY or yOLTiiRE
Within the last few years the annIversor

| bens. Of Spinoza and " Schiller has been duly
honored in the countries upon which their
achievements have shed lustrc. II IL now the
turn Of the French people to attest their obliga-
tions to one Of the foremost names in modern
hlstory-Francois Marie Arourt de Voltairc-
who died on the 30th day of May. ono hundred
years ago. Tho Government Of that time or
dcrcd tn" newspapers not to comment upon his
death and it was fitting that the press Of France
should now use the liberty. which he did so
much to foster in assuring public and splcn-
did tribute to his memory.
Tho celebration Of Vultaire's centenary has
boon promoted and organized by that RepuLli-
can party which. after much tribulation AMI
miscarriage. seem TO have acquired u mastery
OF France, and they have properly set in the
foreground not tho man OF letters or man Of
science. but the social and political reformcr.
the eloquent and dauniess advocate OF personal
and civic freedom. Tho services which this
man rendered TO the cause Of popular rights
have not always been rightly measured aud
they may yet command tho gratitude Of many
who arc repealed by his religious skepticisin.
whose standpoint. we need not saw. has long
been universally abandoned. and whose
defiant and captOus tone would now
have the sound of an annchronism. In
the products Of mind perhaps the most
49, w '''' WV WIZ"
has known. there was much that some may deem
porvcrsc much. doubtless. that ooks trivial and
ephemeral; but We must recognise also the rich
and abiding products of clear insight. ripe wis
dom, high aims, and kindling sympathies
Through all tho multitudinOus activities Of
long and restless life ran one vehement and
M'''"y purpose 'u' renovation OF society ny
us 'nlg monument inc sweeping ana maj over
u'"" -, pu"''' "r"ng Nv '"e'h'rah 'hlsomeh' OF
VI, p"",'v "''"i. me more h"hS' ne Wro'e
III h's oiu age my couhtrymeh shhll seek the
uu'h' tn' more VIII th"y prlze thelr freedom.
ror "h"' rs IL ne MUS 10 be Tree but to
re"soh Justly 10 appruhehd distinctly inc rights
VI "an' le"r h"t uut ne VINO knows them
WI" u'''hu t'enl' Moro Nlrllo ana Whole
so'uo uo"chIhs inc word mas seldom heard
nor were concrete examples wanting on
he part OF the teaeher' such names MS CALAIS
SirNsh hohtoailll anu Laliy-Iollendal Attest
ing tne passiohate uevoton TO justice and hui
manly which hred the error-piercinG. truth
hunting intellect oil NoItalre' Again. IN the face
OF savage ana vlgilant Legislation he dared to
lormulhe inc principle which became the cor
her stone OF inc revolution. me right he
says " speak ana print his thoughts Is the
riEht OF every Ircc man. whereof he cannot be
oercn without the exercise OF most odious
tyranny. TO maintain the liberty Of the press
II inc OASIS OF all oth'r liberties since 10y 1t
h"he 'n' reS'ate"s''rtalnedan ana made secure.
~ II h'ura' we repeal tha' frenrh newspapers
shouu JON win peculiar zeal IN honorins their
most lhtrep'd cnampion' ana that the democ-
ray OF france should esteem II sacred ohli-
s"l"n' un "''' 10 speak oil nl'al pley' tocele-
pra'e WIN imposing solemnities the annivcr-
sary oi this man 3 death
but aslde from his eminent and unchallenGed
uifuf III HlHlhIl rs an apostle OF lrtr Thought