Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-04
= 2 - - - = Z.
THE FALL OF VENICE.
HUMILIATION OF THE PROUD OIL
GARcHY BY BOkAPARTE.
Contemplate Cowardice Of the Patricians
Who Had Ruled With Such High Han
The French Conqueror Declared the We
netians UNIT For Liberty.

The French Conqueror Declared the We
netians UNIT For Liberty.
Since the days of Carthage no govern
mcnt like that of the Venetian oligarchy
had existed on the earth. As its best it
was dark and remorseless. With the dis
appearance Of its vigor its desPotism had
become somewhat milder, but even yet no
common man might draw the veil from
its mysterious, irresponsible councils and
live. A few hundred families administer
ed the country as they did their private es-
tates. All intelligence, all liberty, all per
sonal independence, were repressed by such
a system. The more enlightened from the
mainland, many even in the city, had
felt the influences Of the time and had
long been uneasy under their government,
however smoothly it seemed to be running.
Now that the earth was quaking under
the march Of Bonaparte's troops that gov
eminent was not only helpless, but 1t ac-
tually grew contemplate in its panic.
There was Indeed the most urgent necessl-
ty for a change. Tho senate had power
full fleet, 5000 native troops and ll,OoO
mercenaries but they struck only SIN
glo futile blow ON their own account, per
hitting rash captain to open fire from
the gunboats against the French vanguard
when 1t appeared. But Immediately as II
In fear Of their own temerity, they as
patched an embassy to learn the Will OF
the approaching general. That his deal
ings might be merciful they tried the
plan OF Modena and offered Bonaparte
bride of 5000, 900 francs; but, as In the
case of Modena, he refused. Next day,
tho grand council having been summon
ed, 1t was determined by nearly unanl-
nous vote of the patricians 600 to 2D
that they would remodel their institutions
on democratic lines. The pale and terri
fed doee thought such surrender to be the
last hope Of safety.
Not for moment did Lallemont and
Villetard, the two French agents, internit
their revolutionary agitation in the town.
Disorders grew more frequent, an uncer-
tainty both paralyzed and disintegrated
the patrician party. A week later the gov
ornment virtually abdicated. Two utter
strangers appeared in theatrical way at
its doors and suggested in writing to the
great council that to appcase the spirit Of
tho times they should plant the liberty
tree on the place Of St. Mark and speedily
accede to all the propositions for liberaliz-
seemed to demand. Such were the terror
and DISCRIMINATION of the aristocracy that
instead of Furnishing the intrusion by
death, according to the traditions Of their
merciless procedure they took measures to
carry out the suggestion. The fleet was
dsmantled and the army dlsbanded.
BY the end Of the month the revolution
was virtually accomplished, for rising of
L.. toll. bt,
tho great council in its pusillanimous ter
ror for rebellion Of their antagonists they
decreed the abolition of all existing insti'
buttons, and after hastily organizing a
provisional government disbanded. -Four
thousand French soldiers occupied the
town, and an ostensible treaty was made
between the new republic Of Venice and
that of France.
This treaty was really nothing but
pronunciamento of Bonaparte. He decrced
general amnesty to all offenders except
tho commanders Of Fort Luco who had
recently fired on tho French vessel. He
also guaranteed the public debt and prom
ised to occupy the city only rs long as
the public order required 1t. By series
of secret articles Venice was to accept the
stipuations of Leoben in regard to terri
tory, pay an indemnity of 5000, 600 francs
and furnish three ships Of the line and two
frigates, whilo, in pursuance of the general
policy Of tho French republic, experts
were to select 90 pictures from her CALLER
les and 800 manuscripts from her libraries
Whatever was the understanding OF
those who signed these crushing condi-
tions tho city was never again treated by
any European power as an independent
state. Soon afterward French expedi-
ton was dispatched to occupy her island
possessions In the Levant. The arrange
ments had been carefully prepared during
the very time when the provisional gov
eminent believed itself to be paying the
price of its new liberties. And earlier still
on May 81. three days before the abdica-
ton of the istocracy-Bonaparte had al
ready offered to Austria the entire repub-
lie in its proposed form as an exchange for
the German lands ON the left bank of the
Rhine.
Writing to the directory on that day, he
declared that Venice, which had been in u
decline ever since "the discovery of tho
Cape of Good Hope and the rise of Triest
and Ancona, can with difficulty survive
tho blows we have Just given her. This
AiiStlRpit, NoNoitAS PSoPiNf hhiio tcA NA'
crty and without land or water-it seems
natural to me that we should hand them
over to those who have received their
mainland from us. We shall take all their
ships; we shall despoil their arsenal; we
shall remove all their cannon; we shall
wreck their bank; we shall keep Corfu
and Ancona for ourselves. " Ssasrs
On the 2eth letter to his friends. OF
the Venetian provisional government mad
assured them that he would do all in his
power to confirm their liberties, and that
he earnestly desired that Italy, .'now COW
cred with glory and free from every for
eign influence, should again appear on the
worlds stage and assert among the great
powers that station to which by nature,
position and destiny it was entitled" Or
binary minds cannot grasp the guile and
daring which seem to have prcarranged
and foreseen all the conditions necessary
TO plans which for double dealing tran
scended the conceptions Of men even in
that age Of duplicity and selfishness.-Pro-
fessor W. NJ. Sloane in Century.
Artificial Pearl.
1t is possible to produce a film having
much Of the appearance Of mother of pearl
at very trifling cost. For this purpose
are realiirci ono mart nitro celluIose oY 8