The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-31

people of France, may see more clearly than even
the able publicists of that period that the ex-
cesses of the French revolution grew out Of des-
peration.
The Huns, as now, were spinning the webs OF
intrigue. The Teuton, then as now, living still
in the middle ages, domineering, mean and sordid,
was determined that France should return to slav-
cry. Louis XVI, under the influence of his beau
tiful wife, Marie Antoinette, was dominated by
Austria. His court was filled with German spies
and PrusSian emiSSarieS.
When he found that he could not conquer his
people with French artillery he pretended to &C
cede to their demands and waited for the help Oh
the German war lords. Escaping from Paris, he
had got within a few miles Of the border before
he was intercepted at Varennes. 1t was his in
tent to get Germany to send her armies to compel
his subjects to accept his feudal rule.
Nations become accustomed to changes Of gov
eminent slowly when they have been ground
down under the iron heels of despotism. Reckless
and blind as was their king, the people of France
felt that in some way he was their father and
portector and that 1t would be a calamity if he
should turn his face from them. In the months
which followed when these children of the new
order, knowing far .ss how to govern themselves
than Louis and Marie Antoinette knew how to
rule wisely over them, found their country invad-
ed by Austrians and Prussians they gave way to
their rage.
They had been willing to retain even so poor a
king as a constitutional ruler, and he had already
put upon his head the red cap. Had he been firm
enough of purpose to resist the ~intrigues of the
central powers he might still have saved his face
and his head.
Those were the days when TeutOn tyranny was
everywhere spreading its nets and snares. George
l of England was elector of Hanover, speaking
German on the British throne and knowing no
English, addressing his ministers In dubious
Latin. George II could talk lamely in the tongue
of the people whom he professed to govern.
George III was more German If possible than his
predecessors. They had realized that Great Brit
ain had a constitutional government and left af.
fairs largely to the ministers. He, an exempIar
of q middle age outlook, took the advice of his
German mother. George, be a king"
His o~bstinacy lost to Great Britain her Ameri-
can colonies. A German, he gave aid and COM
fort to France in seeking to make her yield ia
the demands Of her Bourbon king. His klnsman
the duke Of Brunswick, leading Austria and Prus.
sian armies, invaded France and served notice
upon her National Guard that they were liable RI
the death of traitors.
In their evaporation, the citizens of an imnov.
erished nation then guillotined the king who was
taking no steps to meet the foreign foe and was
waiting the oncome Of the Hun to subject then
again to Bourbon tyranny. Hence the Commune
and the Reign of Terror and those dark hours in
which a nation in the throes was endeayorinp n
adjust itself to the problems which followed +bf
overthrow of the Bastille.
France came up out or much tribulation into q
republican form of government. She was enjoy
ing peace and plenty when the Hun again crossed
her borders to impose upon her a yoke which !,
the same as that for which stood the dark strong
hold on the Seine long since destroyed.