South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-09
Other Editors Than Ours



1t was unavoidable that the French should
pecjally commemorate today the Tooth anniver-
sary of Napoleons death. Thoughtful citizens of the
French republic may have feared certain bad eff
fects OF the celebration but they would have been
powerless stay the general impulse. When France
still vibrating with the pride her great vic
tory how was it possible TO keep her from exalt-
ing the memory of the man who is for all time the
incarnation of French military glory? Napoleon
pucked the very heart of it. as Lord Rosebery has
written. And it was inevitable that France should
look back to him the incompatible genius
of
French generals like Mangin are naturally seek
ing Hkenesses between the soldier who rode his
horse the PROSTATE form of feudal Europe and
the marshal of today who led the allied armies to
triumph Foch would be the first disclaim the
compliment and TO show how futile is the
parison. 1t is enough that the modern great
mander equal 10 his mighty task, and that in
his achievement ne displayed moral qualities higher
than those OF Napoleon one of the latters reputed
sayings is: What is the death of million soldiers
a like me?" But Marshal Foch had the
straint and the humanity to stay his hand when
on the eve OF a stupendous victory declaring that
the results" for which he had been lighting
without it, and that he would not ask $4,000
more brave men give up their lives in order that
his planned campaign should be pushed until the
TeutOnic hosts were enveloIed and compelled TO
lay down their
It is Doe hoped that this contrast Will be in the
thoughts of France during the centenary. and that
Will take heart the lessons which her
historians have taught her NapoleOn's mad ambi
uOns, his ruthless project TO bring all Europe and
pire his disregard of the human wastage and the
immense miseries of war-al this should be
subordinated to praise of Napoleon the lawgiver.
the administrator the QuickenCr Of industry and OF
transportation France does need TO grid herself
for another She has 10 bend her energies
10 recovery and rebuding-tasks similar TO those
which Napoleon undertook in 1905 The methods
which he employed about that time 10 construct
splendid roads open canals. reorganize public a
nance. manufactures cultivate foreign trade
and. general diffuse prosperity and sense OF
well-being throughout France well worth study
and imitation the present time
nation as well individual is judged in
part by its heroes But there is such thing dis
eliminating in their worship. The Napoleonic
legend in It's malign power was broken and reject
ed in France after the second empire. According
20 the biting word Of Bismarck in 1871, Louis
Napoleon killed himself and buried his uncle"
There viii be no Bonapartist revival And the best
friends OF France hope and believe that paying
honor she does today TO her greatest military
genius, she will show 20 the world that she has no
thought Of plunging again into Iniitarism. Having
conquered peace. let her prove that, while ready
10 insist upon the rights guaranteed 10 her by the
Versailles treaty. she intends devote herself TO
the works of peace and TO spread its blessings
throughout her fair land.