The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-21
President of Russ-Ameri-
can Chamber of Com
merce Tell Conditions
STRONG MEN ARE
IN CHARGE
Wonderful Commercial OPP
portunities Will Open
After the War

make separate peace as is the
United States, in the opinion of ..
II. Boynton, Of New York, president
of the American Russian Chamber
OF Commerce. Mr.. Boynton. who Is
now in PetTograd, has forwarded to
the organization, of which he is
president, a statement on the condi-
tons in Russia, in which he presents
an optimistic view of the Russian
outlook. Wherever separate peace
has been mentioned, 1t has been
howled down with Indignation, he
writes. Efforts made by the Russian
extremists to create disorders have
been overthrown not by armed force
but by the force of public opinion.
If in the future appearances in
Russia should seem alarming" Mr..
BoyntOn asserted, the real situation
will be in the hands of a ministry
composed of the best Russia can Of
fer" He predicted that the task of
reorganizing the governments
policies will be accomplished before
many months.
Industrial operations, according to
Mr.. Boynton, would at present meet
insurmountable obstacles owing to
the requirements of the war; but he
declared that American capital and
merchants interested in the Russian
field, should lose no time in pre-
pairing and coupling themselves for
the huge commercial business which,
in his opinion, is certain to be CO.
incident with the end of the war.
Mr.. Boynton's statement follows:
Psychology of Situation.
That one may have a fair and
just appreciation of the events
which have taken and are yet to take
place in Russia, it is necessary to
understand the psychology of the
situation. A nation under a rule of
absolute autocracy for centuries
suddenly found itself an absolute
democracy. Almost over night
autocratic Russia became the most
liberal democracy in the world.
Liberty, freedom and equality were
proclaimed and political eXiles and
agitators were admitted within her
borders from wherever arriving. A
nation that had not dared to ex-
press it's individual feelings or
opinions, either in writing or in
speech, was released from all
restraint. Years of repressed ideas
and sentiments were able to find full
vert. The government has allow
ed every phase of political discus
sion, and even that of such an eXtre-
mist as Lenin, 70 proceed without
interference and refused every sug-
gestion Of repression. If under
these circumstances there should be
| a babble of conflicting opinions and
| some fanatic agitation, ii is pot only
! understandable, but indeed quite
natural. The wisdom of the policy
of permitting unrestricted assem-
blage ard discussion was evidenced
| in the quick stamping out Of anarch-
istic preaching by the power of pub
lie opinion.
Spontaneous Revolution.
This was no planned nor even
organized revolution. 1t was a
spontaneous outburst Of dissatisfac-
ton and resentment against existing
rule so unanimous that an empire
became a democracy with the least
bloodshed that ever overturned a
long established reign. Keep
straight before you the fact that this
has been a political revolution. The
problems now confronting the gov-'
eminent are both social and politi-
cal. Social evolution must follow
political revolution. In a nation so
huge and of such diversified inter-
ests, time, courage and patience
standing and adjustment. The
marvel is that with restraint and
control absolutely removed, disorder
has been so inconsequential,
THE possibilities from the dangers
of disorganization were enormous,
especially as many criminals were
set at liberty, and yet there has been
no vandalism and no invasion Of
personal rights, except the few local
instances located in the centre of
violence during the days Of the ac-
tual revolution. The self-restraint
and moderation shown by the entire
nation is the best tribute to it's
sobriety. solidarity and reasonable
ness and the best promise of what
the future has in store. The Rus
sian people are naturally home
loving and of peaceful disposition.
They are neither arrogant nor quar-
relsome. Agitators may temporarily
cloud their point of view by mis-
representation and selfish design but
just as certainly they will return to
their normal psychology.
ITO understand the demonstration
of the week of May which on its
surface looked menacing and grave,
it must be kept in mind that in
Russia such demonstrations are the
only method by which popular opin-
ion can find expression. There has
been no suffrage and therefore the
ballot was represented by so-called
demonstrations. Whatever further
occurrences of this sort take place
must be so interpreted. On the day
of the twenty first, MAY s, Gregor-
ian calendar) when the government
took it's positive stand against the
extremists, it was possible to see in
these demonstrations the quick turn
in public sentiment. Within two
hours after the anti government par
ade passed up the Nevsky, the streets
were filled with cheering supporters
of the government, and the effort or
the extremists to create disorders
was quickly overthrown, not by
armed force, but by the force of pub
lie opinion. The soldiers and work
mems deputies denied responsibility
for the agitation and investigation
proved that the whole movement
came from agitators with Interior
motives. The result has been whole
some and a decided strengthening
Of the governments position.
Disorders Local.
ut should not be overlooked that
these disorders were local and that
the nation at large, so enormous In
territory, quietly pursued its ordinary
vocations. Since that day there has
not been the slightest disturbance
or demonstration anywhere. A re-
cent meeting Of the governors repre-
senting nearly all European Russia
showed that the nation at large sup.
ported the provisional government.
1.-THE future will hold other occas-
ions when superficial appearances
will seem alarming, but the real sit
uation will be in the hands OF q
ministry which. even the most crit
cal acknowledge. is composed OF the
best Russia can offer. These men
are working periodically to the limit
OF their physical abilities to bring
modern progressive methods into