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SHAME OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY61SHAME OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTYM S RAHI*France is a country <strong>of</strong> historic contradictions; and the French <strong>of</strong>volatile temperament, going with frenzy from one extreme to the other– from monarchy to republic and from republic to monarchy. TheFrench penchant for violence is also well known, as all life in France –with barricades all around – suddenly comes to stand still. At onetime, they fight for the republic, chanting slogans <strong>of</strong> ‘Liberty, Equalityand Fraternity’; and then bring back the monarchy without anyhesitation. This has happened many a time in France since the Frenchrevolution in 1789; and the process <strong>of</strong> history repeating itself stillgoes on.Louise Napoleon, the nephew <strong>of</strong> Napoleon the Great, came topower after the second French outstanding universal value to mankindrevolution in 1848, and shortly thereafter declared himself as theEmperor <strong>of</strong> France. It was during that time in Paris, that Karl Marxhad written the most powerful words <strong>of</strong> the century in his CommunistManifesto: “Workers <strong>of</strong> the world unite. You have nothing to lose butyour chains, You have a world to win,” setting in motion the generalrevolt <strong>of</strong> nations against their rulers. Karl Marx was expelled fromFrance. The people <strong>of</strong> France had shown love for Marx, but theysided with Louise Napoleon, when he declared himself as an emperorand robbed the people <strong>of</strong> their liberty. Liberal intellectual writers andartists were suppressed. They were forced to go underground andform secret societies to continue their liberal intellectual work. VictorHugo symbolized the predicament <strong>of</strong> France in his immortal classicLes Miserables, when he wrote on its title page, “So long as by theeffect <strong>of</strong> laws and <strong>of</strong> customs, social degradation continues in the* Dr, Advocate
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