The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-12-19

sudden return Of Napoleon from EIba
it is quite probable the congress would
have ended in war between the allies,
When Talleyrand went to Vienna he
took with him a great following Of
skilled intriguers. His personnel con
ta'0 I'D some Of the most beautiful and
ch-s"iag women Of the world The
! entertainments he gave were Won.
I feri i. Behind the m2z' Of this dis
| Iply he pulled the wires that set the
allies TO quarelling.
Though the congress broke up with
complacent seiIpaaise, history proved
that it had done nothing that was to
endure the test Of time, The kings
left Vienna with the fond deluson that
they had made the world safe for kings,
The great monarchs OF the continent
had formed the Holy Alliance, a league
OF nations to preserve the peace Of
the world and make their thrones
secure. With this part of the con
gress England had no concern. She
Stood alooi from this alliance and later
when it would have extended its
schemes 10 the Western world in de
fance Of our infant Monroe doctrine,
it was the probability that the English
navy would be found barring the way
to conquests across the sea that bade
them pause. Castlereagh, the British
representative at the Congress, did
hope that the signatcry powers to the
Treaty Of Vienna would agree to make
collective war upon any nation that
dared to disrespect its territorial de-
cisions. This hope was still born.
The Congress made no permanent set
,lement, it could not, the mutual dis
trust, the conflicting interests still re
NAMED, and most Of all the racial
differences and prejudi:es continued
to make it impossible for leaders to
reconcile the peoples to the patchwork
map that they had designed. Europe
had been partiiioned to suit the greed
OF the rulers. Poland was destroyed
as a nation and Italy remained sub
servient to Austria. France and Ger
many were left the playthings Of kings.
Today we face the same general
problems that bewildered thoughtful
men a century ago. The great holo
caust is over and embers are dying out,
but the wounds, the desolation, the
cruel hurts, the wanton destruction,
the widows tears and the outraged
maidens' humiliation remain. No
magic wand can alter these tragic facts
Just now ii is announced that Mr..
Wilson is in France. He goes with
all The panoply that might have de
lighted the heart oi T'alleyrand. We
are advised that he has had the gov
eminent rtnt most exclusive hotel
for a year, one that in the past has
been used by kings. We are advised |
that our government pays $500, 0,00' co |
for this. Mr.. Wilson has not advised !
US as TO jist what he proposes TO do.
Some weeks ago we were advised that
he people should mol discuss terms Of
peace but leave that TO our duly con
stiluted leaders, We suppose this
means The president. I, is doubtful
whether Americans will be willing to
need the advice, rs il is the under
standing Of most Of the citizenry OF
this nsticn that the whole trouble in
the past hss been that duly constituted
LEADERS, have often made a mess Of
things, the Congress Of Vienna. for
< mple, Il is also pat ut that the
Kus,r's successors in the government
al Berlin are already planning 10 un'
dertake the coup that Talleyrand used
50 successfully one hundred years ago.
Il is their intention 10 divide the allies
So fer iu the conferences America has
not BEEN officially represented. All
the vital Questions have been settled
without our voice being heard. True.
Col House was present but be WIS
not an official representative from the
United States but the personal repre-
sentative Of Mr.. wilson. No cne
knows what the president intends to
do. His ri nds are as mystifed as his
opponents. Germany evidently Iooks