Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-23
GEORGES CLEMFENCEAU.

None will deny that Georges Clem- enceau in laying down the duties of the premiership of France seeks a through the thought of his rcinquish- ing leadership is accompanied with sion. But his own splendid faith in republican institutions should serve to inspire trust in the future. They are not dependent on the life or strength of any one man, though the immense value of leadership has been notably illustrated in the case of Clemenceau himself. Of the lead CTS brought forth by the world war none has been greater than he. Perhaps the verdict of history will be that his was the greatest single personal influence in the winning of the war for free institutions. It was to this man then in his seven ty-seventh year that France turned when others had failed and doubted, making him premier in November, 1917.
 He had been severe critic of the conduct of the war, seer of facts, but not pessimist. Some of the darkest days of the war were yet to come, but his faith was never broken and victory came year later. Cemenceau had long been called the Tiger and had the reputation of be- ing a somewhat rough and uncom- promising fighter. In his long political and journalistic career he had upset many ministries and min isters. Many regarded him as a destructive critic rather than man of constructive ability. But this es innate of his past was probably mis- taken, and that his capacity for han ding the war emergency was mis- judged by those who entertained such fears has been amply disproved by his great service. His value was as a rallying force, bringing together the elements of strength, which he recognized with an eye single to the interest of his country, regardless of personal and political predictions. Likewise he set aside weakness and incompetence without regard to poli- tical friendships. He cleared the way by unifying France under the leadership of Foch, to the unity of the allies under the same leadership. That this thait in Clemenceau of dis regarding partisanship in the coun try's interest was no new thing sud- denly created by the war is shown in the history of his previous relations with Foch. Years before Clemen. ceau, though pronounced anti clerical had made Foch head of the school of war after Foch had been in lie.
 Clcmenceau's republication dates from boyhood. He spent four years practically in exile in America be- cause of his opposition to the regime of Napoleon III. He was the son of a country doctor, . republican, and himself became doctor. giving much of his service free to the poor ir Paris. Abbe Ernest Dimmet, writing of him in the Atlantic Monthly, re- calls that the medical schools of early part of the ninteenth century in France were hotbeds of atheism, and says that toward 1s40 physi clan who retained some religious belief was regarded as phenomen- on. But later on in the article this writer says:
 His overruling passion, the
 handspring of all his actions,
 great or small, was patriotism. It is pathetic to find so often in
 his writings the humble eXpres-
 sion of almost childlike grati-
 tude for being born French
 man. The lore of France and
 all French traditions has been
 to him what definite creed is
 to others. There would have
 been no foundation for his
 moral life without it; but in the
 degree in which he possessed
 this feeling or was possessed
 by it, he never had any hcsita-
 tion about his duty.
 Emerson in his essay on Culture speakes of cheerful, fallible men and women" About the greatness of Clemenceau there is no insuffer- able infallibility:, In the very vigor of his nature and intensity of hi: convictions he has at times shown weakness that is companionably hu- man, but in his rise to the essentials he has shown greatness that heart ems humanity.-Indianapolis News.