South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-16
BEHIND THE SCENES
With Rulers and Leaders of Wartime Europe
By the Princess Rddziwin
Copyright

policy.
France considered this as likely
20 exercise a powerful influence on
the American people, inasmuch as
il would awaken i'm them "A sense.
not only OF their duties as citizens
OF their own country. but also OF the
obligations that devolved upon them
as citizens OF the world re added
that he felt convinced that by this
course Of action, Roosevelt had un-
doubtedly made for himself many
enemies. but also at the same time
created public opinion, which
would always heartily support him
at any moment Of national danger,
when he would be called upon 60
take again a part i'm the political
life OF his country
Jaures Intervenes
This last remark provoked an
irOnical retort on the part OF one OF
the assistants, who said that he did
not well see how prosperous Amer
lea. virtually isolated from any
chance OF getting entangled into any
European quarrel, could ever find
herself in presence of a real nation
al danger. At this phase of the dis
cussion, Jaures. who had been sit
ting i'm corner Of the room. seem
ingly absorbed in his own thoughts,
suddenly rose. and. coming up 10
the fireplace. near which was stand
ing Anatole France took up the
cudgels of conversation in the fol-
lowing terms. which l reproduce as
they come back to my memory:
We live i'm times" he said. when
IL is worse than imprudent 10 emit
any opinion in regard to the future
Of any country. Personally, / do not
see why the geographical situation
of America ought to prevent her
from entering into all the interests.
as we'll as into the quarrels of Eu-
ropean countries. The tendency of
history has always been. at moments
of listlessness and Indifference. 10
bring forward and substitute TO the
tired races which have done their
share OF the general work OF civiliza-
ton. new blood and new people. A
good many of us see in Russia the
nation Of the future. but / cannot
agree with them in this apprecia-
ton The Russian is far too lazy to
become aught else than a revolving
force, which is as quickly exhausted
as II is easily stirred up; and TO
build upon them solid hopes would
be. TO say the least, dangerous.
Americans, on the contrary. are
full OF energy. of determination. OF
the desire 10 better themselves. and
to get on. 10 go ahead as they say
themselves. They certainly would
inspire me with more confidence
than any other people in the world.
our own included And among
An orleans Roosevelt is the most
perfect type of these qualities. Just
look how he tried TO grapple with
that colossus called trusts. No other
llan would have had that courage.
or dared 10 face the criticisms and
the rage to which this resolution of
his was sure 20 give rise. AND YOU
must not forget that in oroer To be
enabled to do so he had to sur
mount his personal disgust at more
than one association which he fully
realized would be later on seized as
la pretext for attacking him by his
political adversaries
\ ROOseveltian Saying.
You may remember that saving
of his which has gone the rounds
Of all our newspapers over here.
that in order to get on with any
solid purpose in matters Of politics.
one must not hesitate to associate
with all sorts and conditions of
men. Well. this frank confession
is one of the things which I have
admired the most in Roosevelt. and
/ should be sorry 10 think that he
did not make it. Believe me. my
friends. it is easy to criticize. espe-
cially at a distance, when one knows
nothing of the conditions under
which a man is obliged to live and
10 work; but remember that no mat
ter what may happen. Roosevelt
viii always be ranked in the his
tory Of the world. not as "a great
American. which some of you seem
inclined TO consider him only. but
also as a really great man.
The French socialist leader ceased
speaking. and as the echo OF his
voice died away in the hum and
noise of the general conversation.
l. for one. never imagined that I
should live 10 see the day when so
much of what had just been said
would come 10 be realized and 10
/ D.. l.