Such  a  manifesto  could  have  emanated  from  the  Radi-
cals as  well  as  from  the  Socialists.  Uniquely  Socialist
theories  were  veiled  under  insignificant  catchwords  as
"The  True  Republic."  Demands  for  complete  revolu-
tion, so  insistently  urged  at  party  congresses,  were  now
noticeable  by  their  absence.^  Moreover,  many  Socialist
Deputies  carried  on  their  campaign  upon  a  nationalistic
platform.  Despite  the  party's  official  attitude  toward
the  war,  many  candidates  openly  supported  the  Allied
cause.  So  in  reality  the  Socialists  acknowledged  defeat
from  the  beginning.
Aristide  Briand,  one  of  the  most  outstanding  figures
in  French  political  life,  played  a  very  disappointing
part  in  the  election  campaign.  Naturally  M.  Briand  has
I)olitical  ambitions.  But  at  the  same  time  he  is  a  true
patriot  and  an  able  leader.  As  Prime  IMinister  upon
six  different  occasions  he  has  shown  the  highest  type

'"As  a  matter  of  fact,  Socialist  deputies  would  obtain  very
few  votes  if  they  did  not  manage  to  convince  the  general  public
that  they  are  very  reasonable  people,  great  enemies  of  the  old
practices  of  bloody  men,  and  solely  occupied  in  meditating  on  the
jthilosopliy  of  future  law."  Georges  Sorel,  lic/lcctions  on
Violence,  107.
184


THE  1919  ELECTIONS

of  statcsmaiisliip.  lie  exhibited  his  great  power  in  the
conciliatory  i)art  he  played  in  the  struggle  with  the
Church  in  1905-1907.  He  frequently  attacked  the  Clem-
enceau  IMinistiy  during  the  annistice,  figuring  promi-
nently in  the  debates  on  electoral  reform,  on  woman
suffrage  and  on  the  eight-hour  day.  Despite  the
shadow  which  rests  upon  his  last  ]\Iinistry  on  account  of
the  Greek  fiasco,  he  remains  a  powerful  leader  at  the
Palais  Bourbon.
