Washington sentinel., 1899-05-06
Spectator.

Each nation ofthe civilized word find,
a separate inspiration for its senumen
tality, and the sentiment Of France Is
inspired by her Army. The sound oi
the trumpet stlrs the Frenchman's blood
to day we'll nigh as potently as in the
hour tt Napoleon's triumph. The
National Fete of July, when Paris is
packed with troops, is OF all festivals the
most adored by patriotic Parisians AT
every season the sight of a uniform
quickens enthusiasm, if it does not
arouse a cry of "Vive PArmee. Even
when the Generals are in disgrace, the
heart of France beats in loyalty to its
iavorite institution. The lamentable
casuistry Of NJ. Cavaignac is as power.
less to ALLEVIATE this profound affection
as the narrow dogmatism Of General
Roget. Justice is nothing, truth is
nothing, exclaims the average citizen,
but the Army is inviolate and inviolable.
When tlagrant abuses are gently pointe d
out, shameless attack is made, in the
cant phrase, upon the silent and sacred
defences OF France. An officer, being
incapable OF wrong, is seldom called
upon to defend himself, unless, indeed.
he commits the wickedness of believing
in DIeYfus's innocence; and the mere
title Ia Gyands MtIetts proves at once
the strange sentiment that Frenchmen
cherish for their Army, and the com.
Dlete confidence they guard in their
Army's honor.
Noble, brave, unselhsh, proud, in.
sulted-these are, SO to say, the counters
ofdebate; they are put upon the table
whenever the game Of contt oversy
begins, and they are handed from one
player to the other as solemnly as il
they were the sound and current coin of
the realm. But they are not mere
counters; they have at least the valde OF
half sincerity. No institution has ever
been so lofty in character and achieve
ment as the French army is represented
by its worshippers. The sentiment is as
Overcharged as the Spaniard's love OF
etiquette or the Germans alteration of
iaxen hair and blue eyes. And yet
France does not lie when she employs
words which have long since lost their
meaning. For the truth is, she does
love her army and she loves it with its
faults oEialsehood and dishouor thick
upon it. Or rather she lightly brushes
away the faults, and tries to believe that
the object Of her idolatry is honorably
pure. When General de Gallifet, the
one great General OF France whose
reputation seems uustained, declared
his faith in Colonel Picquart, group of
his colleagues inplor ed him not to give
evidence in the Colonels favor, because
thev felt assured of Esterhazy's limo
cence. Ofcourse they are not assured
of Esferhazy's innocence al all, but they
recognize that the corporate army could
not defend itself, and they are prepared
to defend its most worthless member
Such is the anon alous view which
France takes other army. and it is worth
while to consider upon what ground,
however shifty, this view is based. In
the first place, France ana the ARMY are
Indivlsible. France is the army, and
the army is France. With US the soldiers
form a class apart, and our army IS, as it
were, something not ourselves, for which
we are proud to pay, and which defends
our shores and keeps our Colonies.
But our pride comes from the outside;
a smart regiment is a splendid possess
sion, which stirs legitimate enthusiasm.
The French citizen, on the other hand
worships his Army because, however
humble he be, he forms part OF it. For
him TO insult this ational institution is
to insult hlmself-a vice akin to canni
bslism So he is quick to avenge the
lightest word Of reproach, and by an
intimate vanity to declare that the Army
OF which he is a willing or unwilling
member, can do no wrong Nor IS the
Freuchman's keen partisanship born OF
the "Affsir." Some years ago a
Jesuit father who to day, Of course, is
ranged upon the side OF the soldiers,
condemned the system of military
service in even stronger terms than
those employed by NJ. Gohier, and he
was deported from France. The Justice
OF the punishment was never questioned
every citizen knew that the Jesuit Father
spoke the truth, and every citizen
resented his interference, But in the
years when the sabre and stoup were as
yet unallied, the priest was not per
mitted 70 express an opinion on that
which did not concern him, and no
sympathy was shown for the exiled
Father.
And here we are encountered by a
curious contradiction, The intelligent
youth Of France detests the compulsory
service, and rebels iuriouslY against the
enforced discipline, as long as he is
under the yoke. "Mois je ~ suIs pas
patriote," said a French private the
other day TO the present writer, and he
explained his lack Oi patriotism BY the
long march and the short commons OF
the day before. Thereupon he began,
after the wont OF the French private,
who is a student and who reads the
reviews, to inveigh against the insolence
OF his non commissioned officers. and
the Infa nous food habituallv set before
him "It is wonderful, - said he in effect,
''that a Frenchman ever keeps his sell
respect" And may be it is. But the
point of interest is that three years hence
this same private will 10 all probability
applaud the system, which he nov
denOunces with his best elOquence
Though now and again a man OF letters
like NJ. Descaves or NJ Courteline, ma
carry out OF the army a hatred of tn,