The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-20
RUSSIA RELEASED
FROM RESTRAINT
Of AbsOlutism is the Pupil of Amer
lea and Staunch Friend of
Its Allies
ASSOCIATED Press)

New York, July 20.-Russia, as
now constituted, is an little likely to
make a separate peace as the United
States, in the opinion of C. H. Boyn-
ton, of New York, president of the
American-Russian Chamber of Com
merce. Mr.. Boynton, who is now in
Petrograd, has forwarded to the or
ganization, of which he is president,
statement on the conditions in Rus
sia, in which he presents an optimis-
tic view of the Russian outlook.
Wherever separate peace has been
mentioned, it has been howled down
with indignation, he writes. Efforts
made by the Russian extremists to
create disorders have been over
thrown not by armed force but by the
force of public opinion. eff in the
future appearances in Russia should
seem alarming" Mr.. Boynton assert
ed, "the real situation will be in the
hands of a ministry composed of the
best Russia can offer" He predict
ed that the task of re-organizing
the governments policies will be ac-
complished 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 preparing
and equipping themselves for the
huge commercial business which, in
his opinion, is certain to be coincident
with the end of the war. Mr.. Boyn-
toms statement follows:
"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 auto
cracy for centuries suddenly found
itself an absolute democracy. Almost
over. night autocratic Russia became
the most liberal democracy in the
world. Liberty, freedom and equal
ity were proclaimed and political ex-
lies and agitators were admitted
within her borders from wherever
arriving. A nation that had not dar-
ed to express it's individual feelings
or opinions, either in writing or in
speech, was released from all re-
straint.
"This was no planned nor even or
ganized revolution 1t was a spon.
taneous outburst of dissatisfaction
and resentment against existing rule
so unanimous that an empire became
a democracy with the least bloodshed
that ever overturned long establish
ed reign. Keep straight before you
the fact that there has been a politi-
cal revolution. The problems now
confronting the government are both
social and political. Social evolution
must follow political revolution. In
nation so huge and of such diver
sified interests, time, courage and
patience must be allowed for clear
understanding and adjustment. The
marvel is that with restraint and con-
troll absolutely removed, disorder has
been so inconsequential.
"The future will hold other occas-
ions when superficial appearances will
seem alarming, but the real situation
will be in the hands of a ministry
which, even the most critical acknowl.
edge, is composed of the best Russia
can offer. These men are working
patriotically to the limit of their ply.
sical abilities to bring modern pro.
gressive methods into government
machinery that has become rusty and
ineffective.
'The commercial and business op.
portunities lie in every branch of in.
dustry and trade, just as much so as
confronted the United States one hun.
dred years ago. War has created &
scarcity of labor and the wars neces-
sites practically monopolize trans.
portation facilities. Thus immediate
industrial operations would encoun-
ter almost insurmountable obstacle;
and heavy financial commitments fol
new enterprises would not be justifi
able at this time.
Russia has few ports, and the full
transportation facilities from then
are more than necessary for handling
absolutely essential freight. In re
fusing to permit private enterprise
to hinder the wars requirements
Americans must recognize that Rus
sia is taking proper step to assis
her allies to win the essential victory
To this end all else must temporaril.