The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-02-28
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1919
THE PREMIER OF PREMIERs

he IhEMlEh Or 4 hEMlERo
1T is not too much to predict that
history will point to Premier Clemen-
ceau as the greatest personality that
this war has developed. Called from
retirement to take command of the
government after other premiers had
failed to measure up to the demands
Of the hour he Immediately demon
strated in his vigorous handling of
the situation that he had lost none of
his early fighting qualities. The
cause of the allies was at a low ebb
when Clemenceau stepped into the
arena and calmly announced that
thereafter Marshal Foch would have
supreme command of the allied armies.
Such was the force of his character
that nobody had the hardihood to dis
pute his decision, and the appointment
of Foch as generalissimo was accept
ed No other single incident of the
war contributed so much to the allied
success as the unified command that
Clemenceau by sheer force of will
made reality.
premier Clemenceau's entire life
has been in the turmoil of politics, con-
stantly fighting for the principles in
which he believed. Altho France was
forced to conclude disactrous peace
with Germany in 1871, it was not done
with the acquiescence of Clemenceau.
He was one of the delegates at the ne
gotiations and fought to the last
against the ceding of Alsace and LOr
raine to Germany. Men cannot be
bought as slaves in Africa, nor sold
as serfs in Russia, nor delivered like
cattle into the hands of Bismark."
Those were his words as he ragged
against the oppression of the Iron
Chancellor. He has lived to have the
satisfaction of seeing those states re-
turned to France, with himself the
leader of his country in bringing Ger
many to her knees.
"But great as have been the con-
tributions of the Tiger of France to
the defeat of Germany it may truth
fully be said that at no time has he
assumed more important role than
he is now playing at the peace con
ference. While there is difference of
opinion among the large number of
conferees on most of the questions
they are all of little significance COM
pared with the paramount Importance
of the policy to be followed in dealing
with Germany. On that question the
conference apparently is divided into
two camps-those who believe in fore
ing the Huns to pay the penalty for
the frightful disaster they brought
upon the world, and those who think
the best way to 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 matters that they will be able
to take their place in competition with
other nations for the worlds com
merce.
"The latter school of thought is
personified in Mr.. Wilson and his as
sociates on the American delegation,
the former policy is insisted upon by
Clemenceau, backed by the French,
Italian, Belgian and English delegates.
The French people know that Ger
many not only has a huge army with
which to continue her menacing atti-
tude, but factories turning out inn
mense quantities of products with
which to flood the markets of France
and of the world, and possible fleet
of ships to carry those products over
seas. France, on the other hand, re-
members that her northern industries
have been destroyed Systematically by
the Germans, machinery removed, cat
tie and livestock stolen, vineyards and
orchards killed, and everything posi-
BILE done to destroy her future trade
competition with Geramny Unless
the Germans are held back until
France can recuperate her losses she
will be at the commercial mercy of
the Huns The Frenchmen know that
Clemenceau stands between them and
financial ruin in the future. The ben
efits of the fight that he is now max
ing for the industrial regeneration of
his country, free from German inter
ference, if his efforts are successful,
will be enjoyed by his eountrymen for
years to come, and make of Premier
Clemenceau the hero not only of the
French people, but of all who believe
that exact justice should be the lot of
friend and foe alike"