South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-07

Vrfncess Rod1i,,-III WOnuerIul
watch him. and
20 observe the shrewdness combined
with firmness. which ne used To
display az a period when almost
every one. with the exception OF
himself. had lost his or her self
control. lie. perhaps alone in
France at that moment, was the
man who knew what IL was he
wished, and-this - a point which
must be remem Dered-With the sale
exception OF Emile Zola. he was the
only one in the country who had
entered the ranks OF Dreyfus's de-
tenders from purely disinterested
motives, and because ne firmly be-
lieved that the honor OF his coun-
try was at stake-that it would be
stain upon that honor were an
innocent man condemned 10 spend
the rest OF his life in Punishment.
under the Obloquy Of an undeserved
shame. Clemenceau has always
ben an honest fearless man. lie
has been accused Of upsetting gov
ernments and cabinets. but one has
entirely forgotten with what readi-
ness on many occasions he has
complete effaced himself before 9TH
ers. simply because Of his convic-
ton that others would at the par
ticular moment. be better able than
himself TO benefit that France which
he has always cherished so tender
Is.
mOts" when they have forgotten his
services 10 his country. Clemenceau
can not help finding always the one
word which charaCteizes a person
or a situation and entirely forget
ting mercy in applying t. This fac
ulty has brought him many enemies
for whom he does not care and
many admirers about whom ne
troubles himself still less.
Georges Clemenceau is perhaps
the greatest Frenchman Of his time.
His misfortune. If il can be so call
ed, consists in being too witty. Peo-
pie here remembered his "bons
There is no vanity in this remark
able man. Like all geniuses. where
politics comes into question. he is
absolutely Indifferent 10 the judg-
ment OF the crowd. for the crowd
does not exist where he is concern
ed. He knows very we'll his own
worth, and he accepts il quietly.
without the intrusion Of vanity TO
spoil his conviction. in spite Of his
age. he remains the sam fright.
active little man that ne was 80
years ago. He does not care for
Office, and i think that If he could
read what 1 am writing now. he
would say that I had judged him
well in saying that 20 him IL is a
cause OF regret rather than eIation
that he must again abandon this at
titude OF opposition in which he has
been able 20 render such great ser
vices 20 his country. Clemenceau
is not ambitious. lie is purely and
simply a patriot and would be very
much offended IL one mistook him
for aught else.
I shall always remember him on
the day when the mortal remains of
his friend ZOla were transferred
from the cemetery OF Montmartre 20
the Pantheon a mailman belong
ing 20 the clerical party fired pis-
tol shot at Capt. Dreyfus just as the
ceremony was coming 20 an end.
A kind OF panic ensued during
firm and unmOved. I was standing
not far from him, and could oh
serve the slightly ironical smile that
lowered on his lips one of his
friends leaned over his ear and
whispered:
81 wonder whether this shot was
intended for YOU. monsieur lie pres!-
dent du conseiI, or for Dreyfus?"
The old lion. iow smiling quite
broadly. replied.
Isl c'etait dirige contre moi. celia
ne ma pas fat de NAL" C"If il
was directed against me. il did not
hurt me-
What must he told and repeated
is that Clemenceau is perhaps IT,,
one man in France who thoroushly
knows and understands the charac-
ter OF the people OF the United
states. He has lived in America
and studied IT, together with its in
habitants. from the viewpoint of an
intelligent man devoid OF prejudices
or perconCeived notions. 1 reme~l-
Der his once saying 90 me that he
thought no ones education was COM
pIete unless one had been 20 the
United States. and has made one
SELF acquainted with che psychology
OF the people there. A friend OF
mine writing 90 me the other day
from Paris mentioned Gle ~enceau
an his letter. and remarked
He IS The one solitary man in
France who realizes entirely what
the entry OF America into this war
means. anc the certainty which IL
procured 20 rs OF a final victory.
Certainly for the cause OF the all
lies especially az this moment when
no one can tell what may happen i'm
Russia. NJ Clemenceau's advent %
rover is an immense gain and il
viii help 20 Go away with some mis-
trust against the policy of Ameri-
ca which. thanks 20 German accents
and German spies. now tries 20 make
itself heard in France.
will here conclude with per
scnal aLecdote which my readers
VIII perhaps forgive me for relating
The American sympathies OF ~
Clenenceau are largely due 10 the