The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-23

OF the offlCIaI United states COM
mission to the provisional Russian
government 4s5tthF
BY CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL
copyright, 1917, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Association)
The Russian casualties in this wal
so far are more than 7.OO0,OOO-killed
wounded and prisoners.
Sometimes a Russian quietly and
gently mentions this fact to an Eng.
lishman or an American that is lee
turing him about Russia's duty in the
present emergency, and then the Eng.
lishman or the American finds it hard
to carry on the conversation.
In spite of her terrific losses Russia
will 60 on and fight, but she wants to
fight for something worth while and
not because somebody tells her to
fight, and not for the things nations
usually fight for.
Warm Water Port.
For instance, Russia doesn't give a
hoot about Constantinople and a warm
water port. -
have tried hard to make some of
my English-speaking friends under
stand this, but have never had any
luck. Somehow, it. doesn't take hold.
1t slides off their. minds like a cats
claws on a granite shaft 1t doesn't
seem to find anything to stick to-
They can't understand a nation so
foolish. A warm water port-it would
mean everything to the future wealth,
prosperity and commercial greatness
of Russia. At present her only ports
on her European side are frozen up
five or six months of the year and she
is therefore strangled in her CONNER
cial development. If she had Con-
stantinople she could spread her bus
mess and influence very likely over
all the world,
The typical Russian knows this
very we'll, but he doesn't care, and the
rest of the world will not get hold Of
the Russian situation until it under
stands that he doesn't care and why
he doesn't.
The fact is, he isn't looking for the
commercial aggrandizement Of Rus
sia. He doesn't care to see the Rus
sian flag floating in all the Seven
seas. He hasn't the slightest inter-
est in the fact that Russia with a port
open all the year could crowd Eng.
land out of this market and America
out of that.
Poland Lost to Russia.
IL ii ic%u 1,o Co A. hot
Poland is lost to Russia. If the Pores
want to go off and flock by them
selves and will not be happy until they
have a house of their own, let them
go to it. Goodbye, old tops! Here's
luck and pleasant time for all.
The typical Russian would no more
think of killing some Poles because
some other Poles wanted to be free
than he would think of killing his
son because he didn't like cabbage
soup.
And it isn't merely passive feeling
with him. He thinks it is dead wrong
to be dealing in conquered territories
and slicing up maps and all that sort
OF thing and his mind is firmly decid-
ed that he will not do it. Let Turkey
keep Constantinople till the crack of
doom, for all he cares.
Well, then, what does he care
about? What does move him?
Why, democracy and his dream of
universal brotherhood and good will.
FL, wouldn't fight anybody to gain
dozen warm water ports; he wouldn't
Ch IF
territorial expansion or trade.
Will Fight Hard.
But he will fight as hard as any
other man in the world, and perhaps a
little harder, If he thinks his democ-
racy is in danger or the revolution,
light of his soul and breath of his life,
may be overthrown.
So then here is new force let
loose in this world, and gentlemen
that love wisdom and pursue it would
do we'll to consider it with the utmost
because, believe me, If it
isn't suppressed it will tear up more
things than musty old thrones and put
more relics on the curiO shelf than
foolish doddering old kings.
The Ideal that is the Real-that is
Russia.
1t means business, it is in most
serious earnest, it will endeavor not
merely to live up to its doctrine but
to spread it, and providing Germany
doesn't overrun the Russian defense
before the United States can get in
% the fight, you are likely to see the
bulk of Russia's new social philosophy
put into autcau practice in Russia.
know this is startling assertion,
md one note in accordance with the
accepted beliefs in this country. But
gentlemen that are sceptical about a
Realized Utopia haven't spent days
md nights in the Russian National
Council of 'WOrkmen's. Soldiers and
Peasants Deputies have. That
makes the difference.
Citizen Of World.
But anyway, it is plainly of no use
o tell this Russian that he ought to
20 out and fight that Russia may be
treat in territory or in commerce. He
loesn't want to be great in either
1t is useless to talk to him about
lis racial obligations tothe Slavs of
Continued on Page Three.)