The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-01-31

In looking for the cause or causes of
the revolution of France it becomes
necessary to cast Retrospective
glance on the history of that nation.
From about A. D. 1900 to 174O France
suffered in common with the other
European powers from malady called
torpor. Continuous wars, exciting
events together with the ''leaps and
bounds" progress of education and
culture-a cult entirely different from
and on many points in opposition to
that of the middle ages-had overtaxed
the mental capabilities of the people.
It was overexertion of which reaction
is natural sequence.
Thus we find the onward march of
enlightenment not only stopped, but ac-
tually turned backwards. It was one
of those periods when humanity seems
to be asleep. 1t was long sleep, a
long night, but very beneficent. A
sleeping people is not interesting. let
us await the awakening.
In the year mentioned-z4O-w first
notice the dawn of mOrnipg.-I Ihe. rays
of the new rising sun break first over
sunny France; and as the sun rises
higher and its rays become warmer
new life is created, new vitality, new
energy. This transformation or resur-
rection marks the beginning of new
era, not only for France, but for the
world. With life-self-cOnsciOuS eX-
istence-comes thought and reasoning.
Reasoning and thought are often the
forerunners of revolution; in this case
it is more, it is the revolution itself
During the period mentioned it seems
to have been the principal aim of the
rulers to demonstrate to posterity their
splendid ability for degeneration
While their shape and form must still
have born the resemblance of human
beings, their acts proved the absence of
any humane sentiments. Privileges
granted the people by the constitution
were arbitrarily curtailed. Rights and
prerogatives-held sacred by written as
we'll as unwritten laW-Were notorious
ly disregarded.
In consequence hereof we find the
people in abject servitude-the rulers
in naughty insOlence. So impressed
did the last king before the revolution
become with his own power that he
not only overrode the will of the people
by debating to the National Assembly
every word and act, but he also at
tempted to dictate to Heaven. In Of
ficial edicts he told the Almighty what
to do and what not to do. We are tOiC
that the people-yet somewhat super
stitious-brOught sick persons to q
certain mans grave to be cured. The
king having heard of this caused forth
with notice to be posted over thai
grave. The notice reads: "TO God
You are hereby positively forbidden tc
work any miracles on or about these
premises. By order of Louis, King Of
France" This gives us good picture
of the man. will supplement it by
another. The parliament is to be
opened, the arrival of the king is an
nounced, the entire assembly fall or
their knees. The king enters-disre
spectfully attired-sees the kneeline
representatives and prompted by pride
and exultation exclaims: "L' etat c'es,
moiw
Imagine if you can degenerate
weak, vaccilating, brainIess idiot whose
face and countenance bears the STAMP
of debauchery and vice, standing be
fore sovereign people and hurting
this vulgar insult in their face: Tht
State-that is 1! Fortunately this
reached the climax-the eliminating