The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-04-17

king and queen cry 'Oh God we are 100
young to reign
They came to the throne in IVA just
at the outbreak of our own revolution
which had a great influence on the poll
teal affairs of France 1t showed to the
common people of France that it was
possible to rebel against even very
strong government, and, together with
the doctrines of the philosophers it set
the French nation to thinking. Matters
were brought TO u crisis when our con-
gress sent the venerable Benjamin
Franklin to Paris to ask for help for the
patriots.
Louis did not wish a war with Eng
land, and Necker, who had charge OF
the finances was opposed to spending
money unnecessarily; but the French
people were 40 wild with their new en-
thusiasm for liberty that the king did
not dare refuse them What a pity it
is that he, the poor locksmith, could not
have had some foresight. But ii was
not to be, money was spent layishly at
court and the nation was forced deeper
and deeper into debt and the taxes were
steadily increased. In four years 800,
OOO 600 francs or 1852, 600, 900 had been
borrowed, which there was no provision
for repaying. Meanwhile the distress
Of the people was becoming intolerable;
angry murmurs arose on all sides, and
IN it was impossible for the government
to pay even the interest on the loans
made 10 it, it was thought best to try
something else SO the Assembly Of
Notables was called
The Notablcs were selected almost en-
trely from what were called the privi-
legged classes the mobiles and the clergy
Calouue made them speech in which
he owned that he could not make the
revenues equal TO the expenses by a
| hundred millions or so, but laid the
blame on his predecessors Ut seems that
| Jul IN1llll'di 'AibNt0 dlt llDl VI llitil
with u.s. Then he proposed remedy
more sensible than might have been ex-
pccted Of him, which was that the
mobiles and clergy should be taxed as
well ~ the rest Of the people, LaFay-
ette our own Lafayette stood mp
boldly for this measure, though he was
rich and would have had TO pay large
! taxes but he was almost the only noble
| who did The rest would not listen to
! it, Caoune was dismissed and another
favorite of the queens called to his
! place just ut thls time someone pro.
posed that the States General be called.
The word acted like magic. How
could they have forgotten that old
guardian Of the public interests, rep
rosentative assembly They were very
tired Of being governed by kings and
! ministers; il had not worked well. Here
WAS something that would set them all
right again. The king consented and
recalled Necker, who was quite willing
to try once more to hold the helm of
the unmanageabe ship. Neither of
them saw that it was drifting on tow.
ards a whirlpool which was to dash it to
pieces
There were many difficulties in the
way Of calling together this assembly
which had not been summoned since
| Louis XII came Of age in 1914 A hun
bred and seventy-fiye years Great
changes had taken place in that time
! Richcleu and MaZarin had done their
part in taking away from the people al
energy for sefgoycrnmeut; Louis XIV
had made The king wills it, the only
necessary reason for an act, Louis XIV
had suid to thu Parliament Of Paris
"Iou have heard my Instructions; de
sire that you will conform to them
| order you to begin your duties. for
hi any discussion contrary TO my wish
cs.
The day for such sayings and doing,
was over After all sorts of delays, the
States General opened on the fifth day
of May 1889. That day marks the be
ginning Of the French Revolution
| ITn lac continual