The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-12-01
BRANDS SPEECH !.
HURTS CONFERENCE
Governments of France
and Ours Vastly
Different


before the Washington peace con-
ference ten days ago Is said to have
injured the prospects for peace quite
materially. It is also said that he
made the speech for the home folks
in France rather than for the folks
of the peace conference and in
America. He knew that he was
speaking the sentiments Of the
French people and he had to please
them, 1t is said or lose his job. 1t
is admitted that he overstated the
hostile attitude Of Germany and the
preparations the German people are
making for war. Up to the time of
that speech the psychology OF the
world and Of the peace conference
was in favor of peace and a peace
full attitude among the nations, each
one trusting the other. There was
a disposition for each nation to go
farther in offers Of peace arrange
ments than the others expected 1t to.
The speech of BRAND set the
thoughts and inclinations Of the peo-
pie at standstill or flowing in the
OIner OlrectlOn.
There is difference between the
French republic and our own re-
public in the tenure of office of its
public men. The French premier
holds his office only so long as he
pleases the people and the chamber
Of deputies corresponding to our con-
ference. Whenever he ceases to
represent the will of the majority he
automatically goes out of office. II
he presents or recommends some
measure and the majority Of them
vote against 1t that ends his Office,
and the leader. Of the opposition
takes his place as premier. II he
had made a speech at the peace con-
ference and a resolution had been
introduced in the chamber Of
deputies in Paris the next day dis
approving Of what he had said, and
If majority Of them had voted for
the resolution that would have ended
Premier Brands term of office, and
the leader of the opposition would
have been proclaimed the premier of
France. The same custom holds
good regarding the premier of
Canada. Canada has a young man
acting as premier who worked up
from humble position of farmer
boy, school teacher and business
man, to premier OF Canada. So long
as he holds the majority vote on
public questions he will be premier
and no longer
T
Since the peace conference has
been sitting President Harding made
a recommendation about the surtax
and it was voted down by congress.
representatives of foreign govern
ments attending the peace confer
ence were surprised that President
Harding still held this position the
next day. If it had been in their
country he owuld have automatically
cease dto be president and the leader
of the opposition would have been
the president for the asking.
Our government is flexible and re-
sponsible to the vol of the people,
but not with such quick shock as in
France and Canada. Our form of
government assumes that a man may
be right in most things, but may
make a mistake on one thing, or he
may be right on thing and congress
at first thought may differ with him.
The brilliant men Of a nation arrive
at correct conclusions before the
mass of the people do, and brilliant
leader of nation will larrive at cor
rect conclusions before the mass of
congress or parliament do. Having
a government so very responsive, 1
where the will Of the people is so 4
powerful as in France does not build
for stability and it does not build
for independence of character in its
officials, it makes them 'truculent
and always ready to accept the judg-
ment of the masses as near as they
can take the measure of their judg-;
ment and opinion and express that
themselves and act upon 1t whether
it is right or wrong. Our govern
ment provides enough. stability so
that the leaders of thought have an
to go ahead and educate
the people up to their standard be-
fore they are deprived of their Of
fee. EEL,
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