The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-06-13

pose his will. Noble Belgium offered
herself a sacrifice for moral principle
but lacking physical force she found
herself ovenidden and crushed under
the brutal Huns. And while her SUI
fering, her heroism, has served to save
the world she must await the strength
of Others to avenge the blood Of her
sons and the tears Of her daughters.
Behind brave Belgium the army Of
France and the navy Of Britain saved
the world For almost four years they
have held the lines against which the
fury Of the kaiser has dtshed in vain
Mentally the kaiser is on the border
land that separates the well ordered
processes Of the iorceful egotst and
the wild disordered cunning Of a
maniac. He is not crazy in any com
mon accepted meaning OF that term
for that would imply a lack OF under
standing Of the consequences Of his
acts, and that they were without intel
ligent purpose whereas as matter Of
fact they indicate purpose OF coldly
reasoned brutality and intent 10 dom
mate the world. We oppose dan
gerous man, not so much a menace 10
freedom as Bismarck because he lacks
the careful self control and studied
patience Of the master Prussian. But
William II is no fool. He has called
to his aid the shrewdest brains Of Ger
many and uses them to direct his
murderous machine. While he is ar
rogant and vain beyond measure he
is still willing to choose men whom he
dislkes personally if they can deliver
the goods. Before the war he had re
tired Hindenburg because the ciusty
old man had offended his egotism.
But when the war came and the Prus
sian generals fell down the kaiser
pocEeted his pride and restored Hin
denberg 10 power and will continue to
support him so long as he can make
good. The intellectual personality OF
the kaiser is cold, materialistic and un'
Telling. He has the faculty Of select
ing efficient men to direct his forces,
Against him we must bring the full
power oI American energy.
Thoughtful men have been con-
vinced that the kaiser had his eyes set
upon a vision Of world empire that
would dim the spleDdor Of snything
known in history. While other ambi
lious men have had this vision and
dreamed Of its realization and some Of
surprising genius have moved far on
the way 10 the accomplishment Of their
purpose, fortunately for humanity only
a few have progressed lar on the road
10 world empire. The very vastness
Of the vision hides the pitfalls into
which grasping men have fallen 10 de-
gtruction.
In his wonderful description Of the
battle Of Waterloo, possibly the most
wonderful word picture Of contending
armies ever written, Victor Hugo dwelis
much upon the fatal effect Of the sunk
{ n road concealed from the eyes Of
Napoleon when he ordered Ney to
charge Wellington stubborn but weak
eped men. The great captain with
the sure instinct oi genius saw vic
tory lowering over his banners and
confident in his vision ordered the at.
tack. Il was a little alter four O'Clock
in the afternoon, For hours the ter
rible energg Of the greatest general Of
Inc modern world had beat lurlously
upon the impassiye English squares
but these stern men would not yield.
Since their lines could net be broken
there was but one way for the master
Genius 10 win, he must grind them in
TO the earth. To this end he had
massed his artillery and pressed bis
troops on il desperate assaults upon
Welling.on's lines. The effect had
Seen terrible. All that was now need
ed to destroy utterly the English army
which he could not defeat was mas;
charge Of cavalry. His guide told
him there we're no obstacles and be
could see nothing TO hinder the free
passage Of his squadronS. But between