New-York tribune., 1917-12-03
The Deuelopnlent of the Russian Reuolution
tth; y Resembles Other Upisng and Wherein Differs From Them

I later challenged by the more radical pr.,.-
.ariat Cromwell crushed the "Levene,,-
The conservatives in the French Revolutio,
were beaten first by one mob, then BY an.
other. Yet the mob could not hold "a.
The American War for Independence. whi.s
had revolutionary aspects. was followed "
I Shay's Rebellion and By other movement,
/ among the poor for cheap money. for con.
fscation and for reputation Of public asS
private debts. In Russia the reyolu,io,
comes in terms dictated by the embA,;l.S
poor, because the twentieth century Is a.
century OF the poor everywhere.
There is no large theoretical difference q
regards the socialism Of Lenne and that y
Kerensky. Both are radical enough, in tie.
/ ory. 70 suit Liebknecht in Germany or
] Debs in the United States. The dis.nne.
is one of applying means 20 ends A Social.
= ist revolution against the Kaiser in Ger.
many would, following its success, NATURALLY
/ be extremely radical; that Is, there would bs
/ consistent attempt 70 establish a Social.
/ ist republic in Germany But the inius,r,
development Of Germany and that Of Rgssl.
are wholly different, Russia being a fsi
generation behind her Western neighbOr
Kerensky and the Bolsheyih
/ The long-suffering restraint Of Kerersky
as regards the enmity and opposition Of IA,
Leninites indicates, believe, the essern,
sympathy which Kerensky and his followers
l felt for this opposition as regards Socialist
theory and ideals. The Bolsheyik reyols.
4 tion Of the present will be failure becas,.
the Bolsheviki DO not understand the mature
of their task They want Russia 20 rua anl
Az before she can walk; the statesmsnship
Of Kerensky, although II fails in the innsdi-
ate future, will some day be eyerywhers &C.
claimed. That statesmsnship springs fron
the very practical mind and intelligent mets-
DDS of the brilliant and distinguished Leader
of New Russia. The more intelligent por
tion of the Russian Socialists are only ,s,
glad to unite. for the immediate future, via
the Constitutional Democrats. What Rus
sia needs is a constitution permested BY u,
social principle which is moving this deeais
the world over.
First Of all, that constitution should y
democratic in the best sense. Il should bs
cursed neither by an upper house Of titled
parasites nor--what Is much worse-one
composed of untitled plutocrats. The coz
stitution and the laws should throw the
most careful legal protection about the
whole Russian citizenship, especially in tie
protection of the laborer and the labor move
rnent. As Russia develops her industries
there is no need for her population to De.
scend 20 the depths Of poverty OF economic
laissez-faire. Of exploitation and industrial
accidents which have marked industrialisn
in the United States. Russia will be wise
she begins at least where Australia and Nev
Zealand are to-day in labor legislation and
social control.
Education Necessary
But the most essential of Russia's prob.
lens is that of education. Without free
public school system all other democratic
development will be impossible. There is
now a great cry in Russia for dyison OF
the great land-holdings and the public DO
main into small farms for the indlvitsal
farmers. This would be q very great error
indeed. The whole development Of the NOD
ern world is toward concentration in ever
industry and social activity. Division Of Ii.
estates and public domains Of Russia wosh
be reactionary. What a pity that the Rus
sian peasantry do not already possess enoast
knowledge Of reading, writing and aritA'
metic TO develop the Russian village con-
muni.y into a land-holding and farming CO.
operativel II these sturdy farmers bat pos
sessed the rudiments Of education, Russia
and not America, would first possess ts'
leading democratic agricultural working
claes. Whatever elements remain In eonirol
Of Russia AZ the close OF the war, they VII
| be wise If they are led 70 believe that Rs''
sia must seek, above all things, pubic
school system which Is universal, free, en-
/ cient and practical.
tCopyright 1917. Otis r. Wood