New-York tribune., 1918-12-18


Paris supply clear evidence as to
one of the greatest Of the many
perils which beset his pathway. In
France, as in Britain, there are elements,
radical, Bolshevist and, as they were de-
scribed with accuracy only a few
months ago, "defeatlsts," who are ca
gerly hoping to use the President in
campaign to rehabilitate themselves
politically.
1t is only little more than year
ago that Clemenceau. came to power
amid the familiar assertions, which
found ready echo in certain quarters
in America, that his hour would be
brief Refusing to make ignoble and
unpatriotic concessions to the Social
lists, he faced their opposition and con-
Quoted two campaigns, the one against
the enemy in the field, the other against
the foes at home. Until the very hour
when by his courage and constancy the
victory was assured Clemenceau had to
fight against the intrigues and the open
attacks of those very men who are now
most outspoken in their welcome to the
American President.
The man@uvre in all this is patent
and it is reproduced in Britain, where
the men who desired to make peace
two years ago, who despaired of vic
tory or held victory of lesser account
than the realization of their private or
political ends, are making the same
motions. Clemenceau one day reached
the point where it was no longer posi-
BILE to attack him directly. The su-
preme triumph was assured, arrived in
due course, and France, the nation, was
in no mood to permit itself to be misled
by little men, to deny its confidence to
the man who had given back the lost
provinces and won victorious peace.
Thereupon, in France as in Britain,
the shift was made to Mr. Wilson, not
with his consent or approval. But he
became for the men who were willing
to lose the war to win political power
the sole hope of rehabilitation If Mr..
Wilson were to disagree with Clemen-
ceau, if that disagreement were to be-
come public property, then, because of
the Presidents great prestige, because
of his enormous influence as the accept
ed representative in France of the will
then, might the men who had given
Clemenceau more trouble than the Ger
mans regain some shreds Of popular
respect.
This is the circumstance which ex-
cites most apprehension in Allied Eu-
rope to-day. There is a fear, which
finds ready expression in private con-
versation and veiled statement in the
press, that Mr.. Wilson, finding certain
of his principles necessarily opposed
by the official heads of the French and
British governments, will be led to ap-
peal over the heads to the people Such
an appeal would mean, in fact, an APP
peal to the apostles Of Bolshevism and
which yearns for revolution, not peace
The general state of Europe makes
this peril even more acute. More than
half the continent is now in a state of
anarchy. Bolshevism has swept Russia
and invaded Germany; it has it's agents
and its representatives busly at work
in all countries still uncontaminated bv
its poison. 1t hopes to conquer France
and Italy, even England, as it has con
quered Russia and is conquering Ger
many. If it gains a real foothoId west
of the Rhine, then we shall see 2
cataclysm unequalled in human history.
The sole sure barrier to such a catas-
trophe is concerted and loyal action by