Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-13
Russin's Call TO Democracy

D USSlA'S revolution removed the last great
N obstacle in the way Of complete alliance.
moral as well as physical. among the nations
waging war against German savagery. Until
the Russian people threw off tho shackles Of
the Romanof dynasty and its corrupt bu
reaucracy, it was impossible for the allied
nations to welcome unrcservedly the thought
that they were fighting Russia's battle. De-
terniined though they were and confident
their consciousness of right was tempered by
the knowledge that they were making com
mon cause with autocracy as absolute,
though not as efficient. as Germany's. When
this autocracy was overthrown and tho Rus
sian people assumed their right and power to
rule themselves, renewing tho faith their
rulers had broken, the compact OF dcmocra-
cies became complete, to be perfected by the
entrance OF tho United States.
1t was inevitable that the upheaval in Rus
sia should alter not only her internal affairs,
but her external aims and ambitions, and
still further soldify the intent OF the allied
democracies Between the Russian empire
amt the Russian republic there must be as
great a difference between Il dissolute
Caesar and George Washington. The Gar.
TO the extent Of his weak will. stood for an
inherited policy of conquest, Of national ag-
grandizement; the republic must stand for
freedom of the people and their right to peace
and happiness. Therefore. the establishment
Of free government in Russia must mean
radical departure from the policies on which
the imperial government had insisted from
the beginning.
When the possibility of peace was first
preached, months ago, The Times Dispatch
declared that the terms which Germany
was said to be willing to make peace
impossible, but recognized that Russas am
bilious dreams augured unhappiy for the
maintenance Of lasting peace. On this
point it said:
an on ,HG o ct, hand nsntrsls Prob
Wo fsr muss1s 6 59
eared OF the u Blask Sea s and its
littoral, with an outlet on the Mediter-
rran Ysn ana ne gates Of Asia firmly
Es ps ws Of BE hs Tord as asn
mid European empire of which the
Germans dream
1t has been reported from time TO time
that, i'm order TO secure Russia's allegiance
the allies unwillingly consented to yield to
her plans and agreed in 1915. that she was
TO have political control over the Dardanelles
the Sea OF Marmora and the Bosporus. That
this sovereignty would constantly have i'm
perled the worlds peace they realized, but
agreement to 1t was the price they were COM
PEELED to pay for imperial Russia's continued
cooperation.
This menace now has been removed Al
ready 1t had been made fairly certain that
republican Russia would demand no more
than the INSTRUMENTATION of CONSTANT
nople, and the proclamation of the provisional
government, which has decided to tell the
people directly and openly the whole truth"
confirms the expected. After calling on the
people for support, the proclamation contains
this significant declaration:
THE government deems it be its
right duty to declare that free
Russia does not aim at the
OF other nations. at deprivinS them OF
their national patriInony. at occupy
ne by force foreign territories, but
that It's object is to establish a durable
peace on the rights of nations TO de-
eide their own destiny"
With this declaration. with the announce
ment that it has removed the chains which
weighed upon the Polish people" and with an
appeal to the country to find in itself
strength TO consolidate the liberty won and
TO devote itself 10 untiring labor for the well
rare OF free Russia" the government of Rus
STA has sounded call that will find reso-
nant echo in America and her allied dcmoc-
racies.
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II Billy Sunday should give all his earn
mi