Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-15
NOT QUITE THE SAME

Charles Edward Russell, the noted Socialist speaker
and writer, many of whose articles are published in The
Herald, while adhering to his former opinions on most
economic subjects, has withdrawn from the national So
cialistic organization because he found that that organ
ization was not loyalty supporting the government in the
war; and he is convinced that final and complete sue
cess must be won by democracy in the war before sub.
jects of any other kind can be considered. We may not
accept Mr.. Russell as a sound economist, but he has
shown his good citizenship by standing first for the ma
ton and the great principles which it represents and
subordinating everything else until the greater issues are
decided.
Mr.. Russell was a member of the American commits
sion which visited Russia under the leadership of former
Senator Root. He is an enthusiastic believer in the Rus
sian revolution, and he had perfect faith in the ability of
the Russian people to organize and maintain a stable gov
eminent which will be truly representative of the peo-
pie. He sees clearly that free government cannot be Sc
cured under the leadership of the radical element which
has recently obtained control in Petrograd In a recent
article he emphasizes the local character Of this destrllc-
tive movement, and points out that its membership is
confined chiefly to the capital and one or two other large
cities, and that the capture Of Petrograd by no means
involves the capture of Russia. The adoption of the Max
imalist resolution abolishing the provisional government
he likens to a resolution by the city council of New York
abolishing the government of the United States.
Most Americans share the sympathies OF Mr.. Russell
with the revolutionary movement in Russia, and most
will believe with him that it's ultimate success is certain.
But it is just as well to face the facts; and all the ascer-
tainable facts lead to the conclusion that serious times
are in store for Russia.
The comparison of the Maximalist usurpation to a
reasonable resolution by a New York city council scarce
ly holds good. There can be no parallel unless we i'm
agine the forcible overthrow of the government of the
United States and a state of chaos in the entire political
system of the country, with the exigenciesy of a great war
pressing upon us. In such a case a counter-revolutionary
movement by the governing body Of the country's great
est city would be a matter of some moment rather than
the farce which it would be under existing conditions.
1t may be granted that the forces whose tendency
it is to move the nation in that direction of anarchy are
centered in a few of the great cities, and that there is a
strong sentiment throughout the country in favor of or
derly liberty, But the fact remains that this anarchiSfic
influence has paralyzed the military power of Russia at
a time when, for the sake of that country, for the sake of
its allies, and for the sake of democracy throughout the
world, that power should have been. exerted. 1t has
changed a great victorious army sweeping everything be-
fore it into a disorderly rabble fleeing in panic before an
inferior foe. 1t has permitted the enemy to occupy great
provinces from which he had been driven. 1t has sacri-
sible the stifening of the German resistance on the west
front. 1t has sacrificed to the Teutons what the Italians
had won by two years of hard fighting, made possible the
invasion of Venetia, menaced Venice, endangered all
northern Italy, and brought. into prospect the creation of.
"a new battle front in southern France. The movement
that has resulted thus cannot be dismissed as a mere
local ebufition to be quelled with a handful of police.
ment, if any argument is needed, for democracy. Her,
experience during this transition is a forceful demonstra-
ton of the fact that among the first requisites of de-
mocracy are order, self-control, and an intelligent under
standing of the purposes and possibilities Of government.