The New York herald., 1920-01-17
EXIT CLEMENCEAU.
is governed!

Even Italy took the fall of Orlando with e1ua-
nimity, though he had been the most enthusiastic
anti German among his fellow-countrymen. Great
Britain seems to be placid in view OF the posi-
bility that Lloyd George may be superseded as
Prime Minister at early date by Arthur Hen
derson. the Labor leader though there would be
something grotesque to any persons but the Eng
ish in the idea of half or threequarters Social
ist picking bishops and creating peers.
But all over the world, and especially in New
York, where he was once if not citizen at ieast
an honored resident the result OF the caucus vote
in the French Senate and Chamber OF Deputies
which put Georges Clemenceau out Of the race for
President of the Republic win be great disap-
continent. IN such case however, there IS
nothing for to do but submit to the ideas of the
people the subject of "self-determination," to
use that discredited expression.
The original Carnot the organizer OF vic
tory" when democratic principles were struggling
for existence, when the soveregns Of Europe COM
bined to suppress the IDEAS spread by the great
French Revolution as a result OF the American
Revolution. In the same way Cdemenceau was the
organizer Of victory" for the democracies of the
Old and the New World opposed to the Prussian
belief in the divine right of kings to govern
wrongly, and he saw the great game through.
There are those who will talk nonsense about
the reegation of DR.. Clemenceau to private life as
another example OF popular ingrattude. But it
must be remembered that ever since the Third Re
public established it has been confronted by
rerils-by the shabby magnificence Of the Napo-
leonic tradition and by Royalsm which, until
its Irritation with the Church was put end to by
Pope Leo NITI., was always to be reckoned with.
Dominant, defiant, always ready for fight, DR..
Clemenceau was the ideal war Premier. He feared
no foe and he taken in by no friend. With
but one object in view, to defeat and humiliate
the enemy Of France and to avenge the ignominies
heaped upon his country by Bismarck in Seventy
and Seventy-one. he was prepared to subordinate
all individual rights to that high end, and he did
But the very ruthlessness with which he thought
only OF the state and not at all of the individual,
gave lever to his parliamentary foes, the poll
ticians. Was it not Machiavelli who said that a
wise prince one who conducted war If his
object were peace, but that foolish ruler pre-
ferred TO be at war in order that he might have
the powers Of such condition? There were some
who if they did not suggest that DR.. Cl3menceau
had been a tyrant at least limited that be had en-
joyed wartime conditions
This seems absurd to us, to whom tho old man
eloquent must be regarded as his country s
savior-with the help Of Foch. Yet we ought not
to forget that France, freed from the danger Of
emperor, king or "man on horseback may well
desire respectable mediocrity for President
some statesman who would not be inclined at any
time to measure his strength with the Premier and
the Parliament
DR.. Cemenceau is not fit for the job because
he, is not a mediocrity. At least that Is how 1t
looks. That, too, seems to explain the test vote