The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-09-25

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cruel, crafty and unprincipled man; a
master in the arts of duplicity and
deception; always looking towards
strengthening his own power over his
royal master. The people forgot that
he was also master of himself, in
thought, impulse, passion and was ex.
erting through this self-command and
staunchness of principle a wonderful
control over those with whom he came
in contact.
One might conclude from some of
his own sayings that he was vain and
egotistical, but I do not believe he
was. In his own mind, he himself
was always minor consideration.
The welfare of France was uppermost
in his mind. He never saw any inter-
est but that of France. He was un-
doubtedly one of those men who honest
ly believed that he was right and all his
critics wrong. His desire to control
the king was not the result of personal
ambition, but because he believed, with
himself out of the way, Louis would
become the cats-paw of men who would
wreck the nation. He was in trying
position; he never felt secure in his
Office, and knowing that the kings per-
sonal hatred might burst forth at any
moment into flame of active enmity,
he had to keep constant watch for any
influence foreign to his own. Richelieu
found in his royal master his greatest
obstacle, yet he never weakened in his
fidelity to the Bourbon monarchy; in it
he saw the hope of France.
It is true that he erected innumer-
able scaffolds and sent the great lords
of France into oblivion one after an
other. He found this necessary in
order to maintain his authority, but
when we consider that he earnestly
believed that the welfare of France
depended upon his continuance as
premier we will not wonder that he
moved down and destroyed; and, as a
rule, where he destroyed it was to the
advantage of his country. Love of
peace made him watchful of all who
came close to his sovereign and cruel
to the enemies of state.
There is much to admire in this man
in spite of the fact that he was cruel,
stern and pitiless towards those who
conspired against him. None of his
acts have been more severely con-
demned than his execution of Cinq-
Mars and De Thou two months before
his own death, but it was no personal
animosity that dictated the tragic or
der. It is easy to forget the circum-
stances, hidden as they are amid the
romantic stories which have been told
of these unfortunate noblemen, but
history brands their secret negotiations
with Spain as traitorous conspiracy
and points out the ruin it would have
brought upon France but for the inter
vening hand of the merciless cardinal.
1t has been said that Richelieu was a
cynic, bitter of heart and tongue. If
he was, it is not surprising. Virtually
occupying one Of the proudest of
thrones and using his great power for
the good of his country, yet he was
openly attacked, secretly plotted
against, the victim of slanderers, and a
target for every conspirator in France.
He probably had moments when the
impulse was to be generous, and altho
they never altered his designs, they
must have been moments of irresolu-
tion and fierce self arraignment. Of
this the world knows nothing To all
appearances his determination never
waversd. Twice he was exiled from
the court and twice he was reinstated;
the first time through the influence of
the queen mother and the second time
by the force of his own influence over
the king. When in power for the
third time, he spared no one who had
taken part in bringing about his down.
fall. He exiled his supplanter Marillae
and executed the more influential
brother Marshall de Marillae. Prof
J tting by experience and knowing the