in THE CONFERENCE 45

outer world, and no throb of passion, sympathy, orencouragement from his silent constituents in allcountries. He felt that the blaze of popularitywhich had greeted his arrival in Europe was alreadydimmed; the Paris Press jeered at him openly; hispolitical opponents at home were taking advantageof his absence to create an atmosphere against him ;England was cold, critical, and unresponsive. Hehad so formed his entourage that he did not receivethrough private channels the current of faith andenthusiasm of which the public sources seemeddammed up. He needed, but lacked, the addedstrength of collective faith. The German terror stilloverhung us, and even the sympathetic public wasvery cautious; the enemy must not be encouraged,our friends must be supported, this was not thetime for discord or agitations, the President mustbe trusted to do his best. And in this droughtthe flower of the President's faith withered anddried up.

Thus it came to pass that the President counter-manded the George Washington , which, in a momentof well-founded rage, he had ordered to be in readinessto carry him from the treacherous halls of Paris backto the seat of his authority, where he could have felthimself again. But as soon, alas, as he had taken theroad of compromise, the defects, already indicated, ofhis temperament and of his equipment, were fatallyapparent. He could take the high line; he could