The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-06-29

Iho Trench Coaoarror Declared the In
hahi&ats lilscrnhl4. coWarJlr reo-
pie, unlit Tor libqrty 0ccu-
rapcy BY tho French.


ols1archy had existed ON the earth. AZ
its best il was dark and rcmorscless;
with the disappearance OF its vigor its
despotism had become somewhat
milder, but even yet no common mnn
might draw the veil from its mysterl-
ons. irresponsible councils and live. A
few hundred families administered
the country rs they did their private
estates. All intelligence, All liberty. all
personal Independence. wcrc rcprcsscd
by such system. The moro cnlight-
ened from the mainland, many even Ia
tho city, hid felt the influences Of tho
time, and had long been uneasy under
their government. however smoothly it
seemed to be running.
Now that the earth was quaking nm
der the march Of Bonaparte's troops,
that government was not only helpless,
but II actually grew contemplate In its
panic. There was, indeed, tho most
urgent necessity for o chnngc. The
senate had a powerful flcct, three
thousand native troops, and eleven
thousand mercenaries; but they struck
only n single futile blow on their own
account, permitting a rash captain 70
open fire FROM tho gunboats against the
French vanguard when it appeared.
But immediately, as Il IN fear OF their
own temerity, they dispatched an cIn-
bassy 10 learn the will OF the approach
ing general. That his dealings might be
merciful, they tried the plan OF Modena,
and offered Bonaparte bride Of seven
million francs; but. as in the case of Mo-
dena, he refused. Next day, the grand
council having been summoned, twas
determined by q nearly unanimous
vote Of the patricians (six hundred and
ninety TO twenty-one) that they would
remodel their institutions on demo-
cratic lines.
Not for moment did Lallemont aud
Nilletard, the two French agents, in
termit their revolutionary agitation, in
the town. Disorders grew more FREE
quent, and uncertainty both paralyzed
and disintegrated the patrician party.
A week later the government virtually
abdicated. Two utter strangers APP
peared in theatrical way at its doors
and suggested in writing TO the great
council that TO appease the spirit Of the
times they should plant the liberty
tree on tho Place of ST. Mark and
speedily acccde to all the propositions
for liberalizing Venice which. the popa-
lar temper seemed to demand. Such
were the terror and Reorganization of
the aristocracy that instead OF punish
ing the intrusion by death, according
to the traditions of their merciless pro-
ceduro, they took measures to carry
out the suggestion. The, fleet was dis
mantied and tho army disbandtd. ~ =
BY the end OF the month the revolu-
ton was virtually accomplished; for a
rising of their supporters having been
mistaken by the great council, In its
pusillanimous terror, for a rebellion of
their antagonists, they decrecd the abb
clifton of all existing institutions, and,
after hastily organizing q. provisional
government. disbanded. Four thou
sand French soldiers occupied the
town, and an ostcusible tReaty was
made between tho new republic OF
Venice and that of Frances
This treaty was really nothing but a
isTsnsifssissTicTss * .s,rssiiss;ss;;; &c. Isssa
dccrccd general amnesty to all of
tenders except tho commanders OF Fort
I.aeo. who had recently Aired on the
| French vessel. lie also guaranteed
the public debt, and promised 20 oc-
cnpy the city only as long rs the public
order required it. BY n series Of secret
articles Venice was 10 accept the stipu-
lation of Leoben la regard 90 territory,
pay an indemnity Of six million francs,
and furnish three ships of the line and
two frigates while, IN pursuance OF
the gcncral policy OF the French rcpub-
lie, experts were to select twenty pic
lures from her galleries and five hun
drcd manuscripts from her libraries
Whatever was the understanding OF
those who signed these crushing con.
ditions. the city was never again
treated by any European power as an
independent state. Soon afterwards a
French expedition was dispatched 70
occupy her island possessions in the
Levant. The arrangements had been
carefully prepared during the very
time when the provisional government
believed itself to be paying the price Of
its new liberties And earlier still--on
May 27, three days before tho nbdica.
tion Of the tocracy--Dnnaparte had
already offered to Austria the entire
republic IN It's proposed form as an cx'
change for the German lands on the
left bank Of the Rhine. ss
Writing 70 the directory on that day,
he declared that Venice, which had
been In decline ever since the dis
covcry OF the Cape Good Hope aud the
rise of Trieste and Ancona, can with
difficulty survive the blows we have
just given her. This miserable, coward
ly people, unit FOR liberty, and with
out land or wntcr--it seems natural tc
me that VIC should hand them over Il
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
On the 2Cth letter 20 his friends
OF the Venetian provisional govern
ment had assured them that he would
do all In his rowcr 10 confirm their