Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1917-10-25

sound banking system, centralized in
II Of the greatest banking institutions
of the world. the Bank of France; sec
Ond. the i%ngrained thrift and frugality
Of the French people as a whole, to-
gether with Il national economic vigOr
not elsewhere surpassed; third, wise
supervision, and patriotic cooperation
by the government with banking and
business interests.
The government does its part to war.
rant and retain the confidence of the
holders of its securities. One of its
wise policies is to impose new taxes to
defray the interest charges on new Sc
curity issues. 1t began this practice
after the FrancO-PruSsian war, and Is
today following the Same rule in regard
to securities issued to finance the pres
pnt conflict, This r%untinuity of pllr.
pose. doubtless, will prUve runssurlng
To all holders Of French government
securities.
The Frnnco-Prussian war of 1870
1871 tnught the French people the
menning of thrift and economy. So
well did they learn this lesson, that
the whole sum of the indemnity de-
mnn1ed by Germany, $1,000. 100000,
was raised within the republics con-
fines by its own inhabitants and paid
Off more than n year before the time
stipulated by the Germans.
The habit thus acquired has never
been forgotten by the French. and to-
day the aggregate number of investors
purchasing the French wal loans has
reachpd the amazing total Of 4,500,000
individual subscribers. Perhaps no 9th.
err country. in proportion to its popula-
ton. can make Sc good n showing.
France is particularly fortunate in
that her small investors prefer "safe"
investments rather than offerings
which promise high returns. Govern
ment rentes, In France are perpctu-
al. and this characteristic seems to OBJ
tain for these government bonds in
creasing favor In the eyes of the
French people.
The points Of sympathy between
France and America are too man. to
enumerate. but the spirit OF liberty and
It's resultant democracy are, today ns
always, the major ideals Of both ma
tons. Seeking no victories but those
of peace, no territory except their own.
no sovereignty except sovereignty over
themselves the independence and
equal rights Of the weakest member of
the family of nations nre to the people
of the United Suites and of France II
titled to as much respect as those OF
the mightieSt empire. In defense of
these principles. France Is engaged in
Il death struggle with militant autoc-
rnry and ruthless aggression, and it IS
surprising to learn that she has
loaned to her allies and to other friendly
7.0O0,O00 900 francs with which
to further the cause of democracy. It
Is in keeping with Americas traditions
that since the date on which we for.
'ually aligned ourselves with France
and her allies In the great struggle,
our government has lent to France
S370,OOO,OOO.
1t is emlncntly fitting that America
should now be fighting on French soil
to make the world safe for democracy.
The liberty that America has enjoyed
FOR 14O years France helped her to
achieve. The swords Of Lafayette and
aided by the guns Of De
[;rasse upon the high seas, assisted In
the foreign ties that bound the
American colonies prior to the War for
Independence, and from the private
purse Of King Louis himself came the
first loan to Amerlca-unsccurcd and
lncOnditiOnnl--tO finance that historic
Undertaking. 1t was with entire JUS
ice that Washington wrote to Rocham- {
,eau, "TO the generous aid of your ma ,
ion and to the bravery Of its sons Is
be ascrlbed In a very great degree
hat independence for which we have