Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-13
SATURDAY, JULY II, 1918.
The French Fourth Of July.

Tomorrow, July H. is what we have
been wont to call in this country the
French Fourth of July It is the anni-
vrrsarv Of the fall Of the Bastillc, in
Paris, and from tho day Of that notable
event has been hailed as marking tho
dcliverance of the people Of France from
monarchial oppression and subiection 10
an onerous yoke of contiscatory taxation
and denial Of the oommonest rights Of
humanity
History shows that the French people
were right in regarding The fall of tho
Rastillc rs the greatest step towards their
liberation. for Of itself II represented
monarchial oppression and the assumed
right of those IN power 10 override the
people in whatever manner they saw fit
The outragcs to which the peasantry
and common people Of France had been
subjected before tho era Of the great
Revolution were most astounding And
tho Bsstile was ono Of tit most potent
Instruments in enforcing the will Of
those who had tho power on al against
whom their icndish hatred might he
directed. high or low, rich or poor; and
as 10 political considerations, IN accord
with whatever regime might be established
at the time
Erected as a prison during the Four
fconth Century. the Bastillc soon became
tho synonym Of the power Of not only
kings, but their personal favoriteS- to
exercise their Will and wreah their ven
geance upon personal enemies Provided
with letters dc cachet practically war
rants Of arrest signed by the king and
with blanks left for insertion Of the names
Of their victims. those who were IN favor
with the monarch could secure the arrest
of all whom they desired to punish Thus,
the Bastillc became tho grim representa-
tive Of personal and autocratlc power in
its worst form And this is why It's fall,
the result Of determined assault by the
the Revolution, despite its supposed
impregnability. was regarded as a blow
at sutocracy and oppression, and q SYM
bol of popular rights Ii fell on July ID,
1889, and from that day the anniversary |
has been enthusiastically celebrated by |
the French people
At thus time tho celebration assumes /
unusual interest, by reason OF the Great |
War In this war our country has taken /
a hand and will remain until the end |
Our Fourth Of July this year was ap-
propriately celebrated in Pans. and as
return Of the compliment, and as public
recognition of the close and cordial rela-
tions existing between the two coun-
tres, the anniversary Of the French
Fourth of July-of the fall of the Bastille
will be observed in large number Of
cities throughout the United States to-
morrow.
In our city no arrangements have been
made for q formal observance of the
great anniversary day in France, but that
if no reason why il should be entirely
neglected. At least the pastors of our
churches may find in the occasion sug-
gestions for appropriate sermons OF a
patriotic character This is the time when
the spirit of patriotism and the duties of
should be impressed upon the
people more forcibiy and potently than
ever before Surely, the anniversary Of
he day upon which monarchial rule the
,ubversion of the nights Of the people
o the behests of privileged authority,
net It's deathblow in France. should
prove most suitable occasion for this
purpose.