Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-12
BastiIIe Day

OdSltIIG Lay
NIEXT Monday July II. viii be anniversary in
France which the people will observe with poignant
memories and in utter sadness but in an atmosphere OF
national pride in which future hopes knded.
There is in the city Of Paris today public square,
called the Place De La Bashlc in the center of which
rises marble monument to 81 height of 15f feet
marks the site Of the truly dread institutions
of all human history and experience the infamous Bastle
of the old French monarchy.
This was the fnonStrOus and gloomy prison which the
French revoutonists down by stone July a.
1888. For dim centuries it had been symbol of the
despotc power welded the people 1t rat infested
and unspeakabIy vile. in iuckess people political prs-
oners along with criminals often spent what years
remained to them without sight of the outside
world.
WHEN the Bastle finally fell before the fuIies of the
w mob seven miserable inmates found in its
dungeons below the water level Of adjoining moat One
of them had been there for so years.
- On its inner walls inscription, cut prophet
cally into the stone
THE BastilIe shall one day he demolished and the
people shall dance the where it stood"
The people did, most vengefuly-on that fourteenth
day of July exactly 152 years ago from next Monday
They built bridge the Seine with its stones
and the pedestal erected the site of the old prison
bore bronze medalhons synboheai of justice the cons
tuition, strength and freedom which 1t was supposed the
people of France would thereafter possess and ENJOY
Lafayette, who ordered the demolition. sent mode
Of the Bastille with 1.-THE main key of the fortress OF
despotsm" to General Washington.
TODAY the model nearly three feet long, and the
wrought iron KEY, inches in length, are kept
safely at Mount Vernon
Unfortunately the French institutions of justice and
freedom were not kept safely
For now institutions of despotic authority have
returned to France and the imposing monument IN the
historic Place De La Baslle remains to mock people
who forgot that liberty heritage which may be
possessed in perpetuty but something for which the
price of eternal vigilance must be paid
That new fortresses Of despotism have arisen IN
France sad but they the consequence of the neglect
of the French people.
They permitted the agents of communism to filter
into their armed forces and their industries and to under
mine and destroy the very foundations OF justice and
freedom.
They were Indifferent TO the weakening influences Of
conmunistic sabotage upon their establishments OF pro-
ducton and defense and upon their national
character.
They were even Indifferent the raising Of the red
flag Of rnutirv overait of the French fleet
So when conquering alien forces appeared at the
borders Of the French nation there was nothing TO stem
the tide.
A Ii free peoples should take lesson from the plight
"A and tragedy of France. 1t is not enough to tear
down the forresses desposm and erect monuments
their sites.
Liberty and justice endure only where the spirit and
loyalty of the people makes that possible
The edifices Of freedom fail under the weight OF
public Indifference as surely the basties of despots
crumble before the urge of people to be free.
Let the plight of France particularly be lesson to
America where freedom has equally historic and glorious
traditions under the neXorabe necessity for
,-ioilop afa rd iS 10