The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-15

The extraordinary uprising of the human
conscience in the sixteenth century, which
was the forerunner of a movement OF religious
reform, was the first enfranchisement oil man.
Liberty OF conscience, the right OF the in
dividual TO his personal convictions and
free examination, these were its immediate
fruits. The people were in bondage and the
despotic yoke OF monarchs and Of emperors
weighed heavily upon them, denying 10 them
that which they we're compelled to demand,
weapons Tor their hands The future was dark,
o'ercast with shadows Through wars expedi-
tons, catastrophes and famines. men lived
and died without true hope OF deliverance 1t
seemed. But patiencei Slowly there formed
in the breasts of the French people current,
an irresistible current, which ever-w1den 1ng
flows until finally unrestrained, raging and
phno In It's impetuosity, 1t sweeps everything
before 1t, inundating the old monarchy in g
deluge of blood.
The second date, ever TO be celebrated, the
second extraordinary uprising which endowed
humanity with political liberty-this is the
French Revolution.
To France belongs the matchless honor Of
having dared to place its hand upon the veneer
able royalist traditions-to France belongs the
glory OF having established once for all the
rights of man.
This was the dawning of a new era. From
TINS epoch date the wondrous displays OF the
french spirit For we are bold IN defen1lng
in this day that imperishable crown of patriot
ISM pure and generous beyond measure.
Inc influence OF France, at least In the
eighteenth century, had fallen so low that 1t
seemed TO be condemned to the sterile I'M
potence OF a nation in its decline. This lnnu-
ence arose, increased, astonished the world
and placed itself over all, in all domains of
politics, science, letters. economics, art or
morals.
Behold the pleiades OF great minds. created.
SO to speak, by the revolution OF 1883. The
necessity OF facing the coalition OF monar-
chlcal Europe, prolific of legislators, OF gen.
erals, OF men of learning, educators and
orators. The spirit takes wing, and when the
trl-colored standard, so dear and SO glorious,
noated before the stranger, 1t was the Visible
sign OF French prowess-the emblem OF
higher courage.
Revolutions are only good when they pro-
duce an evolution toward progress. keyolu-
uons are acceptable when they enc Dy per-
mlttlng people to reconstruct what they nave
utemonsheu. Our revolution pronght aoout
the reconstruction of a powerful France, OF
france which deservedly holds its place IN the
first rank.
However, let US go q little further forward.
During al this nineteenth century the great
work, peaceable and beneficial, has been
continued The ambition OF Napoleon, the
nhrroWness OF Charles have endured only
ior Time and good sense, which is so char-
acterisuc OF the Frenchman, has taken the
ascendant Even the follies and the blame
not succeeded in turning the people from their
pain Progress has been made, slowly, surely,
despite the crises, formidable at times, or the
dangerous setbacks that have been encount-
cred.
We are not, however, disposed to utter pane
gyric to excess aid resplendenJ patriotism
should not suffer itself to be blinded by an
ABSURD chauvinism. AS people We have
great faui Is instability is not the least OF our
iailnes- Is II inexplicable that the French
the cause OF the weak or the oppressed should
De cnangcable and mobile? II we remember
tnat during long years this Nation had not the
rig INT OF being its own master, II we consider