The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-12-19
Some Lessons from History
WILLIAM =. FREELAND
The CGrg'esS Ct Vienna

The VIC - ras - 'hrough lis
creates, ca,ac ysm w, ave too near
the hideou, events r. jl@gs "oH h''''
it is wounded q! owl 49, So trc.
pair the savage was. 'HaI h-S gore on
for more than four years. ! 'i"cuyely
in such time as this crr mnds tum
toward the past to seek from histon
some word that may aid US in solving
the hard problems we now face.
Just little over one hundred years
ago there met in Vienna Congress
that had the same problems TO consider.
For twenty years Europe had run blood
and for the greater part of that time it
had been forced to oppose the might
est military genius that the modern
world has known. Napoleon Bonaparte
had destroyed the old order. Though
Bourbon kings were again set upon the
throne Of France by the bayonets Of
their biother autocrats, these brothers
were not able to restore the faith and
respect OF the French people in kings.
Napoleon had warred against the old
idea Of hereditary monarchs. For their
weakness, their effeminacy, he had
shown the utmost contempt and it had
been his pride to have him pleading at
his feet. For over a decade he had
been their master. But while he de-
stroyed one form Of autocracy he builded
another equally intolerable His power
rested upon his army. This he han
died with supreme genius. With cold
indifference he divided Europe among
his friends and kinsmen as though it
were private farm, utterly ignoring
the people who inhabited the lands.
His corquering troops had marched in
triumph into the capital Of every con,
tinental nation. Only one thing stood
between him and the world dominion
Of his dreams, the unconquerable Brit
ish feet. Month by month and year
by year it held its unrelenting grip
upon him. Behind its protecting
power England marSbaled the forces Of
the allied governments that finally
brought downfall to the great adven'
,ure. Much the same thing has just
hapened to the grand plans OF the
kaiser.
Leipsic ioretold Napoleon was doom
ed. But after the military victory came
the work Of diplomats, Vienna was
chosen as the meeting place. All
the nations gathered TO remake the
map Of Europe. Practically all OF them
had been leagued together against
France. 50 when the conference met 1t
was decided by the leading powers OF
the alliance that they should agree up
on all the details fcr peace ard that
France should have only the choice OF
accepting or citing their decisions.
This was not role that was agreeable
to a proud people who iJr several
genera ions had considered themselves
as ar5i,.ls OF world DESTINY. How
ever, defeated en- the battlefield there
seemed to be smal! chance lcr her to
restore her lost prestiG".
In this critical hour she trusted her
fortunes 10 tn, shfc rdest dipiomi OF
his time. Talleyraud went 70 Vienna
with the cards stacked against him.
Prussia, Austria, Russia and Eugland
had agreed as to the measures oil pro
cedure. Russia and Pnssia were par
ti,ularly unre 's9nahle in d-mancs tof
spoils. Austria was sa i.f.d with Ger
tain concessions hat she was TO have
in 1laly, while En!laDd was taking only
small interest in territorial matters
so far as any claims l,r herself Wsre
concerned. Her representative was
insistant on one thing on.y, that the
slave trade should be abolished. Thus
over one hundred years ago We find
the chief naval power standing tor
humanity and progress.
With consumate skill Talleyrand
made use Of the differences between
the allies until he had them quarreli1g
among themselves. Before he had
been many weeks in Vienna he had
England and Austria demanding that
France be admi ted to the congress as
an equal. With subtilty that on'y
-. ......,..d he Y,iaued the