Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-07-31

ers, mounted with cannon, looking
down frowningly on many generations
of aw-abiding, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ing Parisians. With the varying for.
tunes of the city the Bastille was al
ways more or less intimately connected.
When in 1896 Charles VII, re-took Paris
from the English his opponents took
refuge in the Bastille. In 1868, the
Duke of Guise shut up in the Bastille
the whole Parliament Of Paris, because
it refused to adhere to the League. 1t
had special attraction for Henry ~.
who, as soon as he became master Of
Paris, made Sully Governor Of the Bas-
tile and there deposited bis vast wealth,
which, at his death, amounted to $780,
900 livres. On the 14th Of January, 1G49,
it capi1ulated to the forces of the
Fronde, after three days Investment.
In later times it WAS used simply as a
prison for offenses against the State-po-
litical criminals. The prison chambers
were for the most part in the 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 at different times some Of
the greatest names in French history,
such, for example, as the Man Of the
Iron Mask, Marshal Richelieu, Voltaire'
de Lutude, Labourdonnais, Cardinal de
Rohan and others.
ATTACK ON THE BAsTlLLE.
1t was used as a prison for State often
ders, who broke out in the Revolution
of17s9. 1t had for many generations been
associated in the minds not only of Pa
risians, but of Frenchmen generally,
with all that was most hateful in des-
potism, with all that was most terrible
in prison fortunes. and with all that was
most repulsive to the sentiment of liber-
ty. 1t was natural, therefore, that as
soon as 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 l4th of July it
became known and was noticed abroad
that the troops stationed at St. Denis
were marching on the capital, and that
the cannon of the Bastille were pointed
towards the street St. Antoine. Immedi.
ately the cry arose, "A la Bastille" and
Immediately, as if moved by one COM
mon impulse, the mighty mass-already
some eighty thousand strong, all we'll
supplied 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 Bastile a con-
spicuous feature of his famous history
This not the place to 60 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 draw bridge fell, the surging crowd
rushed in spite ofthe white das which
had been raised in token of surrender
Delaunay, the Governor, and three of his
subordinates were cruelty butchered
their bodies mutilated, their heads and
one of the hands of each borne aloft or
pixies to the Place de Greve amid shouts
of triumph and howlings of revenge
The prisoners, who were few in number
were liberated. The greater part of thu
garrison was set free. On the following
day, amid the thunder of cannon ant
the pealing of the Te Deum, the work o
destruction was begun and completed
The Bastille was no more. 1t was doubt
less great victory for the pop
ular cause. 1t was triumph, however
in a moral rather than IN materia
sense. A symbol and visible embodi
ment of tyranny had been abolished
utterly demolished, never again to b
restored. 1t was the triumph of liber:.
against despotism, of right agains
might. 1t inspired the people with con
fidence. 1t gave them new faith
faith in themselves. On the day tn
Bastille fell the demon of revolution
was let loose. Hencefolth it becam
uncomfortable. Onward now it nus
go-olward through blood and fire ant
vapor Of smoke; onward through defea
and humiliation and sacrifice, but still
onward to final victory! 1t is in thi
spirit the French republican looks bacI
on the ]4th Of July 1889; and it is be
canse lie thus views the events Of tha
day he forever associates the fall of tn
Bastille with the fall Of lespotism, ant
consequently with the birthday Of free
dom.