The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-04-25
Some Lessons from History
BiSmark The Humiliation Of France
WILLIAME. FREELAND

Holstein and defeated Austria he turn
ed his attention to France. His pur-
pose in this was twotold. He desired
to unite the German states into an EN-
piEe presided over by the HohenzoI
lerns and also to revenge himself upon
a nation that as a Prussian he hated
with intense bitterness. War with
France would serve both ends as oil Of
Germany looked upon her as an ancient
enemy.
In order to understand the progress
Of Bismark's plotting it wifi be neces
sary to go back into the history Of
France and very briefly review the
general condition that had prevailed
since the downfall Of the First Napole'
on. The allied powers whose force de,
ieated Bonaparte at Waterloo restored
the old Burbon kings to the French
throne but could not keep them there,
In 1880 Louis Philippe was made king
OF France by the grace Of God and
the will Of the people" However
the citizen king did not prove able to
establish a government that could deal
with the intrigue Of the ambitious ele-
mems. In lS48 when the storm Of
the Revolution swept over all Europe
France en- led with her kings and be-
came a republic.
The instinct Of the French people
we're sound but they lacked discern,
ment in the selection Of leaders
Louis Napoleon, a nephew of the Great
Bonaparte, had hcen craI,ily moving
forward into the current Of popular poll
tics. He had the advantage Of a great
name, a name that was hallowed with
traditions Of glory. Without any Of
his uncle's ability or genius he still
possessed his ambition and vanity,
mingled with the shallow cunning Of
demagogue. Craitily he appealed to
class prejudice. In the election he
won great majority and was chosen
president Though the constitution
which he swore TO uphold provided for
a term of four years and that he should
not be aligible for reelection he be-
gan at once to create a condition such
that he could destroy the constitution
and retain power. Within three years
he had violated his oath and taken the
government into his own hands ruth,
lessly Killing and imprisoning any who
opposed his arbitrary power. Finally
he made himself emperor. The des
tiny OF France was now in his keeping.
With an ambition equal to that Of
Bismark he possessed no shadow oI
the Prussian's ability. More than that
Napoleon was too vain to be able to
choose strong men TO carry his ambi.
tions into effect. However, he had
smooth tongue and could mislead
men who possessed no great discern
ment. Certain events tended to give
him a false show Of able leadership as
t fris nee the Italian campaign. He
made the most Of these showy events
I Unthinking people in France though
the lost genius OF the Little Corpor
al" had returned to earth in the person
Of his nephew. Oil France what bit
te dislilusionment was 10 be yoursl L
!. Glanced that Bismark was his country'l
, representative at the court Of Napoleon
!. Tor time. With the sure insight O
p his master mind he read the fraud tha
!, ! was being practiced upon he deludec
Y French people. The man whom his
0 tory knows as Napoleon the Little
and as the Nephew Of his Uncle
e had by his in,rigues and cunning vol
= the support oi the masses Of France
= Bismark was not deceived. CAREFUL.
he gagged the measure Of his opponen
analyzed the weakness Of his characte
and planned his destruction. Will
y the blisslul ignorance Of the narrow
:. visioned man his victim trod the cours
:. to ruin that the ShreWd Prussian blazet
s for him. But while in his heart Bis
: mark had contempt for the ability G
g Louis Napoleon he abated none OF hi
r wonted care in preparation. Rsihe
Y v the very fact that he held his victim i
a contempt made him look the NOR
l. carefully that he had neglected no de
tail in preparing the force that was