Evening journal., 1914-11-27
The New France
From the Philadelphia North American.

North American.
from Paris created alarm. but no
panic.
The significance of all this is to
be measured only by comparing the
present attitude with that in the last
great war, forty-four years ago.
When the mad ambition Of the min
istry Of Napoleon III and the adroit
intrigue of Bismarck had brought on
the Franco-Prussian war. the nation
exulted with vainglOrious delight lt
regarded the conflict as a happy adj
venture, in which traditional French
valor would win imperishable renown.
The fantastic enterprise took its
tone from the government Louis
Napoleon, who had daring without
sagacity and vigor without stability.
had thought to revive the imperialis-
tic glories of his mighty uncle, but
had succeeded only in creating an
empire sustained by bayonets and
a court immersed in frivOliiy.
The whole nation was intoxicated
By the Napoleonic legend and the tim
sci grandeur of a worthless impcr-
ialism which had behind it neither a
grand leader nor a consistent pro-
gram What II thought was the thrill
of patriotism was the poison of a
false philosophy
1t took just one month TO awaken
the infatuated people and their feeble
ruler Within three weeks OF tho
opening hostllities four French gem
erals had been routed in six battles
at the end of thirty days Napoleon
had capitulated at Sedan, the main
French force was shut up in Metz
and four German armies were con-
verging on Paris. while the rotten
structure of the third empire crash
ed down in the violence of the Com
mune.
With despairing energy the French
people. freed from their delusion. raj
lied to the defense of their country.
But it was too late. Paris was
starved into submission, and the ma
tion bought peace only by surrend-
ering two provinces and paying a
staggering indemnity.
How far the Germans counted upon
repetition of these ghastly failures
only their general stan knows. But
If they expected to meet another Ba-
zaine and march to the easy triumph
of another Sedan, they have been
disillusiOned
The France 81 1870 and the Fiance ot
1914 are as far apart as il the people
were of different races. The careless
followers of a selfish autocracy have be-
come the sober, diligcnt and informed
patriot, of today; the vain, incompetent
commanders have been replaced by sci
entiiic leaders, whose armies have par
alyzcd and all hut wrecked Germany's
mighty war machine.
Tie change is startling but not mys-
tcrous. IN 1870 fhe French people we're
the subjects of despotic imperialism,
and weak one at that they were fight
ing for tine glory of a dynastic and the
false glamour of military conquest To-
day they are free citizens; their gov
ernment is a democracy; they make WaF
in the righteous cause of self-defensc
They have learned the lessons of lmml-
ity. sobriety aud efficiency. They are ni-
sphed not by visions OF imperial glory
but by love Of their free institutions.
These sacts account for the carly re-
verses as we'll ds tine later victories. Il
is an axiom OF political science that the
most efficient system, particularly m
wal. Is an intelligent autocracv Sue,
prOdigiuus foats az the swift German
mobilization and the irresistible driv,
toward Paris require the surrender o
popular rights 10 a centralized power.
Democracy is never SO wen prepared
never can mobilize 80 readily its iiil
strength. But on the other hand. au
tocracy must have victory to endure
while democracy can survive defeat. Au
toCracy Is at It's maximum of strength
in the beginning; democracy. ii not thci
overwhelmed. steadily increases its eli
cheney and striking power.
Thus the military strength of France
despite enormous losses, is greater today
than at any other time since the wal
started. The armies that gave way be-
fore the first terrific pressure of th,
German hosts havc stilicnrd into human
ramperts that defy a-sault. and behinc
them are others whose weight can o.,
thrown into the scale when wheI
needed.
The greatest fear was that the Frcncl
troops while Nalorous in attack and pur
suit. would crumple up under defeat
But throughout tie terrible retreat Z,
tho Marine they maintained their from
with unfaltering courage and tenacity
and when the time came TO advanc,
they flung themselves upon the invader,
with such impctuous gailantry that ar
mics which were the terror of Europ,
were rolled back in disorder.
II is not only a new army, but nev
nation. that France shows to the worl,
today Democracy has put into hc
peaplc a ihcr Of patriotism iniinitel,
stronger than. tho stronger than th'
shallow enthusiasm inspired by gilt
tering Imperialism. They are almost
sombcrly restrained, but their calm J.
ominous for those Who foresaw a repeti
tion OF Sedan and Gravelotte.
Not oven the natural desire to rceah
lost provinces could evoke such stern re-
solve These people are not maxim.
war TO gain territory, but 10 preserve
their liberties.
A nation which fights at the biddn.
of an efficient autocmoy can deliver
crushing blows and reveal qualities o
the most inspiring courage and dcvo
tion. but men who fight for govern
ment which is their own. for the mtcg
rity of their country and the security
OF their homes. are unconqucrablc.