Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-07-30
THE BASTILE.
History ofThe Old symbol OF Desrotis
Power.
New Nnrk Herald.

ltllu 81 uespOtlc power. pIlSlIiillN
what afterward grew into the Bastile
building, or n il was sometimes cali
ed, Castlo Of Paris was part of the wall
Of Paris, and of the gateway of II. An
tome Between the years 1869 and
1888, under in,tructions from Charles
v, Hugo. Aubriot, Provost Of Paris,
made large additions, converting what
We're little more than mere gate towers
into huge stronghold rs defense
against the English. Although from
time to time il underwent certain ~
ternal changes it retained To the last
substantially the features which I re-
Ceivcd from the vigorous Provost It's
eight gloomy towers, mounted with
cannon, looking down frowningly ON
many generations oflaw-abiding, peace
and-pleasure-loving Parisians. With
the VARYING fortunes of the city the
Bastilc was always more or less init
mattlv connected When III 1856
Charles VII. retook Paris from the Eng
fish his opponents took refuge in the
Bastile In l5S3 the Duke Of GuiSe
shut up III the Bastilc the whole Parla-
ment of Paris, because il refused to adj
here TO the league. 1t had u special
attraction for Henry H., who, as soon
rs he became master of Paris. made
SulIN Governor of the Bastilc and
there deposited his vast wealth
which, at his death, amounted to
1,S1000O livrcs On the 14th Of
January, 1646, it capitulatcd to the
forces Of the Fr0nde, after three
days investment In latter times it
was used simply as u prison for otlenses
against the state-political criminals.
The prison chambcrs were for thamost
part i'll towers or under the level OF
the ground. Once inside the isolation
was complete, and it was often final
Within its gloomy walls were confined,
ut different times, some of the greatest
names in French history, such, for eN-
ample, rs the Man of the Iron Mask,
Marshal Richeieu, Noltaire. dc Lutidc,
Labourdonnais, Cardinal de Rohan and
others.
1t was used rs a prison for state Of
tenders, who broke ont in the rcvolu-
ton of l1S9. II had for many genera
tons been associated in the minds not
Parisians, but of Frenchmcn generally
with I'LL that was most hateful in dcs-
potism, with all that was most terrible
III prison torture and with AL that Was
most repulsivc To the sentiment of lib
crty, 1t was natural, therefore, that us
soon rs the populace Of Paris found
themselves armed it should be the first
object to command their attention. the
first to feel the weight of their blows.
On the morning of the 14th Of July ii
it became knowna and was noised abroad
that the troops stationed ut St Denis
were marching an the capital, and that
the cannon of the Bastilc were pointed
from the street st. Antoine. Immcdi-
ately the cry arose "A In Bastile.," and
Immediately, rs if moved hy one com
mon impulse, the mighty nasal
ready some $4,000 strong, all well sup
piled with arms, and having among
them large numbers of the troops Of
the line and of the French Guard
rolled on to the now doomed fortress.
Carlyle makes the taking of the Bas-
tile CONSPICUOUS feature Of his famous
history. This is not the place
to go into the details of the
struggle. Suffice it to say that the
place soon yielded to the strength of
the assailants. The chain which sus-
pended the inner drawbridge gave way,
the drawbridge fell, the surging crowd
rushed in and in spite of the white flag
which had been raised in token of SUR
render. Delaney, the governor and
three Of his subordinates were cruelty
hutchered, their heads and one of the
hands of each was borne aloft on pixies
to the Place de Greve amid shouts of
triumph and howlngs of revenge. The
prisoners who few i'll number. were lib
Grated The greater part Of the garrison
was set free On the following day,
amid the thunder of cannon and the
pealing of the TIE Deum, the work of
destruction Was begun and completed.
The Bastilc was no more. 1t was doubt
less Il great victory for the popular
cause. 1t was Il triumph however, in Il
moral rather than in material sense.
A symbol and visible embodiment Of
tyrauv had been abolished utterly de-
molshed, and never again to be restored.
1t was the triumph of liberty against
despotism, Of right against might. Ii
inspired the people with confidence. 1t
gave them new faith-faith in them
selves On the day the Bastilc fell the
demon Of revolution was let loose.
Henceforth it il became uncomfortable.
Onward now it must go-onward
through blood and fire and vapor of
smoke; onward through defeat and
humiliation and sacrifice, but still on
ward to final victoryl 1t il in this
spirit the French republican looks back
on the 18th Of July 1889; and it is be-
cause lie thus views the events Of that
day that he forever associates the fall
of despotism, and consequently with
tho birthday Of freedom.
After what has been said il will not
be wondered that the Nth Of July
should have been singled out rs the
most appropriate day to hold a nation
al fete and TO rejoice over the success
of the republic, 4 third time established, |
and this time consolidated by ten wears
of growing prosperity. 1t important,
however, to boar in mind that. although !
it passed into comparative neglect. |
amid the hlackness and darkness which |
clouded the fair promise Of the first
days Of the revolution, and amid the
succeeding shadows and splend0rs 0f |