Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-14

|ity. Captured by the Germans. he e1
hibited ingenuity and bravery OF a
high order by escaping from their
prison camp and making his way
back to Russia and into the thick OF
the fighting.
His life has been that of soldier
and he knows the temper of the Rus.
sian army better than Kerensky. II
their respective records are of any
account in enabling the observer to
form an opinion. And yet, he goes no
farther in declaring the policies for
which he stands than has Kerensky.
The difference between them is that
Korniloff demands that the rule of
blood and iron--which is one way OF
defining the infection of the death pen.
atty for deserters-must be put into
effect. Kerensky merely said 1t would
be put intd effect and followed that
declaration by failure to make It good
The soldiers and workmen's council
lis peculiar to Russia. 1t Is semi.
military and semi-legislative body
which in theory, makes for co-opera-
tion between the government and the
army In fact 1t makes for disorgani
vate soldier as the ruler with the
government merely means of apply
ing and legalizing that rulers author
ity.
If the soldiers and workmen's coun.
Gil represented all the soldiers, there
would be no hope for Korniloff's re.
volt But 1t is evident that this is not
the case, and that the council is, in
fact, merely Russian invention OF
sociallstic origin, based on the same
doctrine Of destruction and subJuga-
ton of authority which is found at
the bottom OF all socialistic moves,
whether they be in Europe or Amer.
lea.
In the whole history Of the worlds
governments and wars there Is no &C.
count of successful army which did
not recognize and bow to the author.
ity Of It's leaders. That Is the theory
on which armies always have been
built and always must be maintained.
And until that theory is at the root
of Russia's military organization there
can be no permanency in its govern
ment
The series OF catastrophes which
have befallen Russia since the revolu-
ton are traceable directly to the
teachings of destruction which were
instilled with such care and against
such odds in the years which led up
to the revolution against Nicholas.
These teachings were the ideal social
istic doctrine. They dealt with des
truction and gave no heed to recon
struction. They had for their goal the
overthrow of government which
existed, and their whole scheme con-
tanned nothing which contemplated an
organization Of new government.
AS consequence, when they found
themselves freedmen, the Russian SOL
diers and serfs became intoxicated
with their newfound power and with
the thought that each man was law
and monarch unto himself
The desertion which decimated the
armies opposing the Germans are an
old story. The efforts of the PEN
niless. Ignorant Slavs to become rich
by Selling lands and estates were the
direct result of the propaganda which
had pictured overthrow Of organized
authority as the apex OF all Russia 5
desires. The reign OF crime was the
inevitable outcome of the condition
that had been built up by the very men
to whom Kerensky is turning in an
effort to win support for government
which he endeavors to make just with
out making it harsh
Russia is not ready for an idealist's
government No nation is ready for
it, and Russia is less ready than any
of the others because in Russia the
seeds of socialism have sunk to the
extreme depths in the minds of the
deluded millions.
Kerensky saw all this, and evi.
denced the fact by his announcement
Of blood and iron rule for the army.
But he lacked the nerve and the in
genuity to follow the announcement
with enforcement of the rule. He
cal idealist weakling in spite Of his
many strong characteristics, and his
ultimate failure is as certain as 10
the sequence Of the seasons.
Perhaps Korniloff will be crushed.
Possibly his revolt will be short lived
and kerensky will rise again. But II
Kerensky energies from the present
crisis as ruler he will not be the same
man whom Korniloff defied. He can
maintain his leadership only by TAX
ing for his government the dictatorial
powers which Korniloff, at Moscow,
demanded that he take. and that would
be victory for Korniloff even II the
man himself should be compelled to
pay for his revolt with his life.