The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-24
THE SHADOW OF vALMY

1t may be that the thought OF Nalmy is the controlling
influence preventing the Versailles congress from sending a big
force to restore order in Russia. 1t is no long way from
Versailles to the field where KeHerman and Dumouriez, at the
head of what was then thought to be but a mere mob, but
which was the real foundation Of what became the NaPoleonlc
armies, turned back the trained soldiers of Europe.
But there are essential differences between the situation OF
1892 and that Of 1919. Then privilege, as represented by the
autocrats of Europe, sought to put back on the French throne
a Bourbon prince-scion of a family which never forgot any
thing. The demand now is simply for a stable government IN
Russia, to be chosen by the real majority OF the people lhat
was an invasion to maintain by force OF arms the divine r19ht OF
hereditary kings to rule as they pleased. This should be an
expedition to aid a helpless majority in selecting ITS own form
of government, and the officials under that form.
That campaign was waged against the most intense demo
Gratis that the world had seen up to then. Mrrabeau had conf
mitted almost every crime in the calendar, but he never could
be bought, fooled or bulldozed into standing for oppression OF
the weak, and his matchless oratory had never lost a debate
in the assembly. Danton was no paragon OF virtue (but lew
were in his day., but he loved France, and was superb in his
organization of the national defenses. 1t was he who, with
Sahceti the Corsican and Carnot, ancestor OF the late French
president, nodded the French mobs into armies the like OF which
the world has never seen, unless the feats at arms in the present
war finally be classed by historians as their superior 1t was
they who were usually delegates from the assembly to the armies
at the front, and no excuse for loss of any part OF a battle or
campaign was valid with those delegates Inc penalty LOT sucn
failure was the loss Of his head by the responsible commander,
They developed the plan OF concentrated attack On tG VITA
point held by the enemy, and evolved the army which BarraS
turned over to Napoleon in Italy, which needed only the impetus
of his personality to defeat the three greatest captains OF that
day before either learned the name OF the youth IN command;
Thew we're backed BY the fanatcal Marat, and when he died
at Charlotte Corday's hand, they found 70 centimes IN his
pockets as his sole estate.
these men, with the W aTlStOCTduC DS LdlHClhSy lhS
foppish Robespierre and at times the noble Lafayette, were
the brain and sinew of the French revolution. From the view
point Of today, its political crimes were enormous, but were not
their provocation in the past and hopes for the future great!
But their vices were as virtues in comparison with the wees OF
the system which they opposed, and any man must be judged
by his times and his surroundings, But above all they ioVeu
France, and they stood for the right of any man to make Tree
and full use Of his opportunity.
How can anyone think of these men in connection with the
miserable crew temporarily in charge of Russia millions!
When Russia and Germany were at war, Lenime and irotzky
had unlimited German brides which were to be used ana WmIh
were used to betray Russia into German hands NO one 'nhks
for a moment that the majority Of Russians wanted any sucn
action. They are a good people, docile, honest, industrious ana
homelovingI and probably have been given liberty as last as
they know how to discern between liberty and license
1t required three efforts on the part of France to establish
a permanent republic, and even then the royalist sentiment was
so strong that the only legal authority today for a republican
form Of government is an act Of the assembly, %repealable at any
time, and specifying that the presiding officer shall be called the
\"president of the republic"
What France suffered in the years from 1889 to 1872 can
never be told. What the rest of the world suffered from loss OF
her companionship and trade during many OF those years VIII
never be known. r.,
uals then was at a low ebb, and such ideals among nations was
mot dreamed Of. 1t remained for Woodrow Wilson to crystal
lie such a sentiment into a world reality, and make t a iorce
that will endure while this civilization lasts,
With these high ideals in mind, the allies should send to
Russia a force sufficient to take Trotzky and his Bolshevik crew
out of control, and aid the real people OF Russia to establish
such a government as they want. The commander should be
one more skilled in dealing with people than hostile armies, fol
his military task would not be difficult if he were able to con
vince the people at large that he was their friend, The s'tua,
ton would be a delicate one. Handled properly, Russia ought
soon to be restored to the fellowship of nations, and be sparec
many years of misery and suffering for her millions OF innocent
people.
If this be not done the Bolsheviki of Russia and Germany
may finally get a firm enough hold upon their countries, no
only to keep them in the throes OF terrorism for years, but tc
organize their millions for a militant propagation Of their doc
trines upon the western portion Of Europe, and the collapse o
their civilization would endanger ours also.
But the campaign, if made, must be upon a high mora
plane, and not have the sordid aim Of the one that collapsed a
Valmy, for if it created such an impression it would only serve
to crystalline the radical sentiment, as it did in France, and tht
millions of Russia and Germany, fired as were the French il
1873, and led as they were until Leipzig, would overrun two
continents, if not the entire face Of the earth.
Paderewskis hands are insured for a large sum. If he let
the Bolsheviki make Roadway in Poland he should insure hi