Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-28
The Spirit Of France

We often speak of the spirit of ma
ton without much conception Of what the
term means And yet each nation has it's
own peculiar method of expressing itself
just as definitely as the individuals which
compose it, AS the spirit of the indi-
vidual makes up. the personality by which
he is known so the national spirit be-
comes the Interpretation of that nation
in the opinion of the world AS person,
actuated by mean and selfish motives in
his dealings with his fellow-man, is re-
garded with sscorn and contempt by his
Fellows so a country in whose life greed
and deception are predominant becomes
accursed in the company of nations. In
great crises, involving the honor of a ma
ton, we should look to the motive that
prompts to action, for it is there that the
spirit betrays itself.
National spirit is, therefore, mad up
Of various componentss 1t is the nations
personality It is as Well the motive
which lies back OF its attitude, TOWARD
life and the world at large. 1t is til
heart throb which prompts it to speed
defense of it's own honor and the prope
conception of the rights of ~ether ma
tions. The declaration Of the ancient
concerning the individual that from tn
abundance of The heart the mouth speak
eth" holds equally true ia case Of gFoups
of human beings so the word stand;
in Judgment over the peoples taat cosES
pose it and weighs in the scfss9s q
opinion the Asprft5tha guides II
fairs of men. -
We must expee TIE various al
ways. Yet IT Is also possible that III
natural feeling OF the nation nTy bscvsa
warped BY sue influence q a4,s .lh,s,
stimuli. tSor instance, "a country yWhic;
owes much to- its fellows aud Should re
spond quickly to the demands of thu
manity, may have had It's conscience
distorted by the worship of materlalisn
as to show spirit entirely foreign to tina
of it's founders. The veneer of the banl
account may be allowed to stifie the ex
preston of the heart beat and the worlt
will wonder at the change and laugh
the ideal falls to the earth in ruins.
There is no nation in the public eye
today which is so commended as i
France. our sister republic. May we no
account for this by the fact that she has
remained firmly attached to the ideals o
her founders? AS we study the histor!
of this nation we find that there ha
been a consistent expression of idealiSm
though, at times, obscured by the con,
fusion of the times. Back of the appa
rent loss of a national spirit has always
been in evidence a strong public opinion
which pointed the way out she mas
made her mist axes as other countries
have done. but we may love her for her
mistakes, as she has eventually righted
herself before the world
What are some of the chafacteristcs
of the French spirit? First of all we
should place love of country. TO
Frenchman France sums up all that is
best in this world. In his estimation she
stands but little lower than his God and
for her his life is willingly sacrihced.
There is no self-interest back Of this love
other than that which accrueS to the in
m
ing of all. Great has been the inspira-
tion of this motive and deeds OF Valof
that thrill have had their origin mere
There is no appeal which can receive
greater or more instant response me
Marseillaise, which has been worth ie-
gonS to the armies of France, has It's
wonderful power in the emphasis upon.
the obligation Of the citizenry of coun-
try to live and die, if need he, not for
their own personal gain, but that the ma
tional ideal may live and pass on. TO pos
terty an unSulied national honor.
There has been noticeable also in the
life of France deep consciousness OF
individual liberty. This has proved the
great spark which has lighted the torch
OF freedom in the world. TO her we owe
a debt which is hard to pay for her share
in making America "the land OF the free
and the home of the brave 1t mas peer
to her credit, too, that she has not con-
tented herself with good wishes lr
freedoms cause but has poured out her
treasure and her blood without stint. In
willingly exchanged for scraps of paper
showed her love in tangible way. Still
better, thousands of men under able lead
ers demonstrated her hatred of the OPP
pressor. The last battle against England
on American soil was largely French
victory as French troops outnumbered
the continentals and Lafayette led the
first successful attack against the British
redoubts.
Her devotion to the cause of hui
manity was again demonstrated when,
in 1914, she barred her breast to the adj
vaneing hosts of Germany. 1t was her
indomitable faith in the cause of Justice
that hurled them back in stern defiance.
1t was this repulse that saved the civili-
cation of the world. as definitely as the
victory Of Chages Martel preserved Flu
rope from the domination of Islam at
Poitiers in the 18th Century. In both
cases the growth of military autocracy
was checked and democracy assured an
eventful success
There has always been a note of self
sacrifice in her world vision, Humanity
has played large part in her plans for
the future. It has never been France
alone that has filed her thought. but the
general uplift of mankind through ar
equal chance to ALL 1t has taken blood