The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-02-27
THE PREMIER or pREMIERs.

ht1h dbhSiNy ASst"iattttis tslfHuKu IT.
President, Hon. jonathan Bourne, Jr..
today gave out the following state
ment from its Washington hcadquar-
ters.
ut Is not too much 10 predict that
history will point to Premier Clcmcn-
ccau as the greatest personality that
this war has developed. Called from
retirement to take command Of the
government after other prcmicrs had
failed to measure up to the demands Of
the hour he Immediately demonstrated
in his vigorous handling Of the situa-
ton that he had lost none Of his early
fighting qualities. The cause Of the
allies was at low ebb when Clemen-
ceau stepped into the arena and calm
! ly announced that thereafter Marshal
Foch would exercise supreme COM
mand Of the allied armies. Such was
the force Of his character that nobody
had the hardihood to dispute his de-
cision, and the appointment of Foch as
gcneralissimo was accepted. No other
single incident Of the war contributed
SO much to the allied success as the
unified command that Clcmenceau by
sheer force Of will made reality.
premier Clcmenccau's entire life
has been in the turmoil Of politics,
constantly fighting for the principles
in which he believed. Although
France was forced to conclude q dis
astrous peace with Germany in 1871.
it was not done with the acquicscencc
Of Clemenceau. He was one Of the
delegates at the negotiations and
fought to the last against the ceding
Of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany.
Men cannot be bought as slaves In
Africa, nor sold as serfs in Russia, nor
delivered like cattle into the hands Of
Bismarck Those were his words an
he ragged against the oppression Of the
Iron Chancellor. He has lived to have
the satisfaction Of seeing those states
returned to France, with himself the
leader Of his country in bringing Ger
many to her knees.
"But great as have been the contri-
buttons Of the Tiger Of France to the
defeat Of Germany il may be truthful
ly said that ut no time has he assumed
a more important role than he IL now
playing at the peace conference.
While there is a difference Of opinion
among the large number of conferces
on most of the questions they are all
Of little Significance compared with the
paramount importance Of the policy TO
be followed in dealing with Germany
On that question the conference ap-
parcntly is divided into two camps
those who believe in forcing the Huns
to pay the penalty for the frightfui
disaster they brought upon the world,
and those who think the best way 70
obtain lasting peace is to be lenient
with the Germans, to send them what
food they need, raw materials for
their industries, and so arrange mat
tcrs that they will be able to take
their place in competition with other
nations for the worlds commerce.
"Thc latter school of thought In
personifed in Mr.. Wilson and his as
sociates on the American delegation,
the former policy Is insisted upon by
backed by the French,
Italian, Belgian and English delegates
The French people know that Germany
not only has huge army with which
10 continue her menacing attitude, but
turning out immense guam
tiles Of products with which TO flood
he markets Of France and Of the
world, and possible feet Of ships To
AIRY those products overseas. France,
IN the other hand, remembers that her
,orthern industries have been destroy
ID systematically by the Germans,
removed, cattle and live
took stolen, vineyards and orchards
Tiled, and everything possible done to
lestroy her future trade competition
With Germany. Unless the Germans
ire held back until France can recu-
,crate her losses she will be at the
commercial mercy of the Huns. The
know that Clemcnceau
tands between them and financial
uin in the future. The benefits Of
he fight that he is now making for
he Industrial regeneration Of his
ountry, free from German interior
nee. II his efforts are successful, win
e enjoyed by his countrymen for
ears to come, and make OF Premier
'lemcnceau the hero not only Of the
'rcnch people but Of all who believe
hat exact justice should be the lot Of
ricnd and foe alike"