HOW HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 923, 21 March 1918, Page 6

HOW HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

1792 and 1918. IT is curious to notice the many instances of history repeating itself for which, the Great War has been responsible. , Just recently Chancellor Von Hertling, with characteristic Hun hypocrisy, took it upon himself to. inform the Reichstag, and incidentally, the world at large, that Germany's mission is to impose German kultur upon Europe and would fain have his fellow, countrymen and the outside world believe that Germany's purpose is a pure and'holy one. whereas the wicked. Allies are endeavouring; to enelave the peoples of Central Europe. To these extraordinary claims due 'and proper reply has been made by both President Wilson and' Mr. Lloyd George, who have both made it ; clear that Germany shall give solid guarantees that she will not again break the peace of Europe, and that her claim to be the political, arbiter of the world can never be tolerated by Britain and America-

In this connection it has beenpoiiifced out that certain words used, by the great British statesman, William/Pitt' in 1792, when France, drunk, with .vie-; tory "aspired to inflict era the whole world a kind of* despotism of freedom m the interest and under of herself,"- apply with equal truth -.tcf the" attitude taken up to-day towards' Germany by tli© Allies: In the course of a despatch dated December 31, 1792. Pitt wrote: —-. . . - England will never consent that France shall arrogate the power •of * annulling at her pleasure • and. under the pretence of a- pretended natural right of which she makes herself the sole judge, the political system of Europe established by solemn treaties. ... If. France is really des?.rous of maintaining peace and friendship with England she must show ■ herself disposed to- renounce her. views of aggression- and aggrandisement and confine herself within her own territory . without insulting other Governments, without disturbing their tranquility, . and without - violating their rights. # . * ■ * *..".. We have only to substitute Germany for France, in the above very; striking passage and we get, in a nutshell, the whole attitude towards the Huns of the present day Allies. To-day the; Allies are fighting for even- a nobler - cause than tha.t for which England fought long and so strenuously in the Napol- - wars. Had Mr. Lloyd George simply transcribed Pitt , s despatch it woμld have formed a telling answer to the mendacious and hypocritical claims of Germany that she and not France, Great Britain, and America are the true friends of political freedom. .