The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-09-05

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 now, were spinning the webs Of
intrigue The TeutOn then now living still
in the middle ages, domineering, mean and sordid,
was determined that France should return TO sIav-
cry. Louis XVI, under the influence of his beau
tiful wife, Marie Antoinette was dominated by
Austria. His court 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 Of
the German lords. Escaping from Paris he
had got within few miles of the border before
he intercepted at Varennes. It 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 their king the people of France
felt that in some way he their father and
pOrtector and that IL 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 / 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 door 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 intrfgues 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 constitutional government and left AZ
fairs largely to the ministers. He an exemplar
of a middle age outlook, took the advice of his
German mother. George be a king"
His Obstinacy lost to Great Britain her Amer-
can colonies German, he gave aid and COM
fort to France in seeking to make her weld TO
the demands of her Bourbon king His kirsD,ar
the duke of Brunswick, leading Austria and Pms
sian armies, invaded France and served notice
upon her National Guard that they were liable +o
the death of traitors
In their evaporation. the citizens of an 5u7nov
erished nation then guillotined the king WIN x,ss
taking no steps to meet the foreign foe and voc
waiting the OneOme of the Hun to subject tbarn
again to Bourbon tyranny. Hence the Commune
and the Reign of Terror and those dark hours IN
which a nation in the thrOeS was endeavorfnp r.,
adjust itself to the problems which followed the
overthrow OF the BaStiIIe
France up out OF much tribuIatfon int .
republican form Of government. She was eniov
ing peace and plenty when the Hun again crosse5
her borders to impose upon her a yoke which q
the same as that for which stood the dark strC-,
hold on the Seine long since destroyed