New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-14
ercies. All gave the Jesuits are hidden to

the feast.
French Republicans can gather little inspira-
ton from the Bastile anniversary. The pollti-
cal despotism of the letTe de cdchet had come 10
an end before the gloomy fortress was stormed'
and when Delaunav and his Swiss garrison were
beaten down by the mob, and the doors OF the
prison were opened, only seven prisoners, four
of whom were fOrgers. were set free. 1t was
scene of mob violence and blOodshed-tDe
starting point of n revolution besmeared with
crimes AS many as GA names were suhse-
ouently inscribed on the Column In the Place
de In Bastile, but it was day without heroes
A mercurial young journalist, whose literary
style was like that of Voltare. had mounted
chair in the garden of the Paais Royal and
called upon the crowd to arm themselves. "A
recreant priest had spurred the people on 10
deeds of violence. A pasuycJoks son, whose
mind was imbucd with the philosophy OF Rous-
seau, could boast that the keys of the BastlIe
had been delivered to him. But neither
Camille Desmoulins, Fouchet nor Brissot towers
in epic dignity above the mob that surrounded
the prison house of the Bourbon kings. Even
if Danton himself mingled with the exasperated
popuace on that eventful day, he was not a
shrunk from the masslcres OF September and
saved his reputation from the degradation OF
low vices. Such "a they were, OF the earth
earthly, these lea icrs OF the Fourteenth OF july
were the victims of that Revolution for which
they opened the WY. Two Of them went to
their death iii the same executoners cart, ne
silhing for his handsome wife and cnrsng the
people, and tie other crying aloud to the
passers-by that it was he who had given the
signal fol- the destruction of the Bastile.
The national holiday which the French Gov
eminent has selected must stand for something
more than the attack upon the BaStile and the
virtues and patriotism of those who took part
in il. Il can be nothing less than the RevOlu-
ton itself of which this was one of the opening
scenes. At that time Mirabeau was still pop
ular. Sleeves was at work on his Constitution,
and La Fayetie, who had retained from his
rampaigns with Washington to propose a
decree proclaIming the rights of man, was the
hero of Paris The Revolution, which then
seemed to lie instinct with creative energy,
was doomed to become period OF extermina-
ton. Liberty crowned with the bonnet rouge
came to look like Medusa. The Ratchet OF the
guillotine spared neither genius nor virtue
Events moved fast. Nine months after the eX-
ecuton of the King, Vergnlaud's head rolled
into the basket SIX months passed, and Dan
ton was condemnpd. Three months more, and
Robesperrc hid given place to TaIlien and Re
action. The Revolution had come 10 an end.
The Revolution, but not Parliamentary
Government. That was to 30 on, hampeied
and obstructed under the BOnapartes and two
of the Bourbons, hut never paralYzed. In the
fulness OF tine, with the development OF
Parliamentary institutions and methods, an
other aud better Republic, one endowed with
creative genius and cOnse yative instincts, was
to be founded. from this point Of view, the
Bastile annivcrsary is utterly meaningless. II
is = better day for the national ieto than the
Tenth of August, when the Tueries were
sacked, or than tic Twenty-6ist of Sep
TENDER, when the first Republic was pro
claimed. bn1 il is not the best that could have
been select, for Republic which has been
created Icy Parliamentary methods. Inc
afternoon in June when the THIRD Estate made
its celebrated VOW in the tennis-cOurt at Yer
saileS, is the true point OF departure for French
Republicans 1t was the supreme moment
when the nation became conscious OF Its own
strength.