Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-15
FALL OF THE BASTILE.
Celebration of It's Ninetieth An
niversary.
GRAFTON BY SENATOR SARGENT
Street Parade and General Enthu
siasm.
IsrscnL By rElseRArn 10 rur sscORD,usos. ]

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isPscraL BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE RECORD us1osl
SAN Francisco, July 14th.-To-day was
celebrated by the French residents of this
city of the taking of the Bastile by the
French populace the first act in the great
drama of the French revolution Great in
terest has been taken in the celebration, and
the military display aud literary exercises at
the Grand Opera House this afternoon were
of great interest. All of the French socie-
ties have decorated their buildings, and prom
inent French citizens have made handsome
display Of bunting in different parts of the
city.
Lafayette Hall, 730 Montgomery street,
was the rendezvous for the different military
companies and other associations that COM
posed the procession. At / o'clock the La
fayette Guard, Captain Luttringer; the
French Zouaves, Captain Boutes the Swiss
Carbineers, Captain Heusler the Sumner
Guard, Captain Robertson the French and
Swiss societies and numerous French citizens
formed in line and marched from the hall to
Washington street, thence to Kearny, where
Consulate was saluted. The procession then
marched along Kearny street to Third and
Mission streets, and the Grand Opera House,
where the principal exercises of the day were
held.
AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE
The exterior of the Grand Opera House was
beautifully decorated. Opposite the entrance
stood four Venetian masts, from which foated
the tri color, and which were entwined with
evergreens. Over the main entrance was
trophy of fiags-AmericAn and French-sur-
rounded by large blue shield on which, in
letters of gold, were "R. F.n-Republique
Fraucaise. Above was statue of Liberty
enlightening the world, being a fac simile of the
gift OF France to America, and which is to be
erected on Staten Island, New York. On
either side of the doorway are shields bearing
the figures . 1880, surrounded by flags grace
fully festooned. With these decorations of
bunting were mingled festoons of evergreens,
some of which extend from the building TO
the large lamp-posts on the sidewalk
Wreaths and festoons of evergreens were hung
upon the glass partition within the main
entrance, and beyond were rows of ferns
and palms, forming walls of deep green
foliage on both sides of the vestibule. On
either side is stand of colors and tri-color
shield. In the center of the vestibule floral
of which were filed with fragrant flowers.
The four columns supporting the roof of the
temple were composed of richly-colored flow
ers, the roof being mass of evergreens and
blossoms, surmounted by shield, the three
colors shown being formed in violets, pinks
and geraniums. In front of this floral temple
stood large vase filled with exotic flowers.
Suspended from the balcony were ten flags
grouped about large shield. A rich fernery
nearly concealed the large mirror, above and
about which were festoons of evergreens and
flags. The galleries of the auditorium Were
draped in colored bunting, with shields at in-
tervals, each bearing the name of some Illus
trious Frenchman. The proscenium boxes
were festooned with evergreens. and be.
tween each two boxes was q stand of
colors and a shield On either side
of the stage are large American and
French fags, above which were gracefully
festooned the French, Swiss and American
flags. On either side of the stage is large
fern tree, one bearing wreath on which are
the figures ''17S9, "and on the other a wreath
bearing La Prise de la Bastile." The ex-
ercises opened with an Introductory address
by President WE'LL Then followed the read
ing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man
and of the Citizen, by NJ. Il. Marque hymn,
Societe de POrpheon Franchise Grafton in
English, A. A. Sargent "The Star Spangled
Banner" Miss Ellen Coursen French dis
course, M. A. Goustiaux, Orator of the Day !;
la Marseilaise," Madame Zeiss- Dennis
poem, by A. Mason, recited by S. Bonnet
closing selections, orchestra.
THE ENGLISH GRAFTON.
The following Grafton was delivered in
English by ex United States Senator Sargent:
There are epochs in rations life which separate,
like impossible CULTS, its past and future. They
break the chain that history forges. They remit to
former world the customs, thoughts, privileges,
miseries, that just now engross people ; and they
call to life new emotions, hopes, liberties and FERNS
OF society. 1t is fitting to commemorate such when
they tend to enlarge the horizon OF humanity, and
lift the masses OF mankind upon higher plane
Such an epoch was the 14th OF July, 1889. Ninety
years ago noble nation awoke to its rights and
struck its first effective blow for their vindcation
Before the assault OF the unorganized people there
fell the massive fortress which than an IN
strument-it symbol of despotic power and
with it fell traditions and FORMS and yranuies that
had for centuries repressed the spirit and starved the
hopes OF a.generoGs people.
BIRTH OF GIANT.
On that day the people were self-crouned as SOW
ereign of France. young giant born whose
tread soon startled the nations. Half blind with
pain aud suffering, inexperienced, surprised at its
strength, striking at privilege, and sometimes
unjustly at those who held it, there deeds done
by the people on that day, and on many succeeding
the result was vanqushed despotisin, an enfran-
chised people, deeper meaning to popular truths,
revelation of rights and duties precious beyond es
innate to France and all mankind The popular
branch of the French Legislature has decreed that
this day shall be perpetually holiday and French.
at home, and wherever they are dispersed
about the globe, celebrate it with high observance
The free heart of France beats to-day with solemn
and sublime emotions and its pulsations felt in
this grand assembly OF its sons and daughters 1t
was fitting act for the existing popular body OF the
Republic to mark IN era that made republic posi-
be. With wise discrimination they put their finger
this day, rather than that just year after,
when the French people, in vast assembly, eele-
brated the confederation, and creed universal lib
erty, equality and fraternity. They noted this DAY
rather than any other, on which determined peo-
pie struggled, or, in more peaceful hours, n
structed new Government for it was necessary to
destroy in order build and the destruction of the
Bastile the first step taken in the process of dis
encumbering France OF old customs and tyrannies.
1t was only By tearing down that which for hoary
years had dshonored humanity and deied God tina.
1t was possible to erect government of the people
by the people, for the people.
THE EVENT.
There are those who recognize in the event you
celebrate only the act OF 4 furious and merciless
mob, and think the glory OF the achievement can.
ceiled by the spasmodic cruelty that accompanied
it. Such see the CORY head Of Lunay, carried on
pike, bowed with mock courtesy to the statue OF
Henry w. and this spectacle obliterates their sym.
pathy for the suffering millions in the extremity OF
famine ard despair, who then and afterwards struck
down all emblems and agents OF despotism. Ed
mund Burkes sympathies ran with the revolution
lists until they laid hands the Queen of France.
Taine finds only words of hot indignation and re-
proach for the rude work and workers who orgi-
mated and completed the revolution. Such wild
proceedings offend the great historians taste. Yet
no one than he has more clearly, if uneonscousy,
delineated the justify'ng causes that worked for
centuries in France grinding out the souls of men
and leading up TO this crisis have little tolerance
for this sentimentality that measures and
luton ty the rule of peace and order, that
in quiet and Submission to evils supreme good.
France could only be free by violently ealancpatng
itself from the Bourbons. Better that blood flow
over throne than under it Better that the few
perish in the agoniZing throes of nations new
birth-those whose claims OF privilege antagonizes
regeneration and makes 1t hopeless-than that
generations should abjectly grovel and die Men
and things are consumed by the heat evolved by
vast popular movements, and the stronger the re-
sistance the more consuming tine fire. So it was in
France in 1850. To the astonishment of the privi-
legged classes there suddenly arose formidable
power, underlined and destructive. on which no one
seemed to have any hold and which, with its parent,
bowling and mis- shapen Liberty, as they saw it. sat
at the threshold Of the revolution, like Mtons two
spectres at the gates OF he'll. Before this formda
be power every feudal barrier went down. The
monarchy, the aristocracy, the church, moss grown
privilege, selfish tradition, all fell down. A new
idea was wrought into the texture OF society-the
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