The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-02
GOOD ADVICE TO RUssIA's
NEW GOVERNMENT
BY Frank P. Walsh.

|
| New York City, June 2s.--In response
to request from the Russian Week
ly" published in Chicago Frank p. Walsh
chairman of the committee on industrial
relations, has made the following state
ment on the lessons and warnings that
Russian democracy can gain from Amer
lea:
we find after more than century OF
constituted democracy in America, that
we have the letter but not always the
spirit of an inspirational and genuine
y progressive form of government.
The constitution of the United States,
following the bill of rights, promised
much and has performed much, but
stealthy inroads have been made upon
its finer provisions, usually through bald
legalistic sophistries, so that it's sub
stantial guarantees have been destroyed
so far as the great mass of the people
OF the United States is concentrated. The
result is that democracy, as understood
by many OF us, has disappeared in great
measure and probably will not return
except through travail, suffering and
finally a readjustment of our national
thought to the sane and hopeful view
that the well-being and happiness of all
the people is the momentous thing in
national government, and not the super
fetal and hollow prosperity of few of
us.
The hope OF America lies not alone
in the splendid struggle of the producing
masses for justice, but also in the val
liant and self sacrificing spirit of the
thousands who see clearly the menace to
the republican who having iinde-
pendent means of living in many in
stances, yet are working against an or
der of things which insures them wealth |
and comforts denied to the countless /!
majority. Throughout our land there
are hundreds of intelligent and forceful
labor leaders, students of government |
and so-called radicals, possessed of YER
sion and courage, who are turning into
the fight their personal abilities and for
tunes to stem the tide of privilege which
threatens to -engulf our beloved repub-
lie. They work for that ideal through
which democracy shall endure, and la
Dor, the source of all wealth, shall reap
he harvest which it sows.
New Russia should heed these plain
essons America paved the way for
world democracy. II was the fulfill.
nent of a glorius dream, dreamed by
orceful and resolute men intent upon
newer dispensation that should bring
he greatest measure of peace and hap
illness to all of the people; a flaming
orch in the darkness of autocratic mis-
ule. American democracy has not en-
rely fulfilled its prophecy. But it has
elped tighten world darkened by cruel
y and injustice. Let the men and wom-
n of New Russia join the hopeful souls
I our own country who vision nations
ncompassed by truth and everlasting !
lstice and humanity between man and |
ian, and trim the wick which will make q
Fighter a world fast falling into the c
arkness of greed and csllous selfish t
ess.
New Russia has learned the lesson that /
fe is governed at its springs and not
its food. Where democracy has mis-,
arried in America IL has been subtle
nd unknown to all except the thought
IL and discerning. So far it has aroused
ut comparatively few and these the
ctims, usually of the insidious con-
,iracies against their freedom of
fought and action. New Russia should
rive to adjust its government at the
art so as to eliminate and make i'm
,ssible those features which have
owed menace to American freedom. y