Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-15
PLAYING GRANDPA TO RUSSIA.

80, tFrom the San Francisco Bulletin)
1t IL one Of the most curious facts in the recent
history Of public opinion in the United States that
We should all be finding so much fault with the
Russian revolution when we had so little to find
with the car We all pretend to hate despots and
love democracy, but few of particularly among
those who make speeches or write for the news
papers and magazines - were anywhere near SO
severe with the Black Hundreds as we are with
certain exuberances Of the Workmens and Soldiers
Council Pictures of the car and descriptions of
his happy family life attracted American readers
up to the last moment. We were all pleased to
Enow that Nicholas was spoken of by his faithful
subjects as athe little Father" and we were moved
almost to tears BY the touching affection which his
soldiers were said to have for him.
y This, we felt was truly democratic, though its
forms were 50 different from ours We had attain
ed the point IN our thoughts this subject where
We could hardly see the difference between govern
rnent By the people and government by benevo-
lent despot II these appearances belied us it is
because the opinions Of our supposed intellectual
leaders were not representative as is sometimes
thought. This can hardly be true, however, for in
advance of suchsprompting quite large number of
us have been disposed to regard the revolutionary
upheayal with grave grandfatherly suspicion and,
like King Canute, have urged the rising tide to
come no furtherthan the li1e we have drawn in the
sand for its guidance with our walking stick
Revolutions do not behave in this way. Our own
revolution did not, tie French revolution did not,
and Russia's will not. Russia may accept die;
tator because her people are convinced that such
is the only way to meet the situation, but she will
not take this step or any other on the advice of
American conyentionalisn. 1t ii bitter pill for
to swallow but the fact Is that the Russians who
are now in power do not regard the United States
as competent to play the tutor to them in govern
ment. They win not rely on us for advice or com
mendations They are trying to please themselves
not us Behind their struggles looms the spirit Of
centuries of suffering, endured BY race far more
Homogeneous than our own, with literature and
arts rooted deeper into the soil than ours can be for
many generations. Our history and national ge
MUS fitting as they may be for u.s. do not fit us to
lay down laws for Russia. II we live up to our
principles we will leave Russia to work out her own
salvation and not accompany her heaying of the
earth with our bubbles as to its lack of grace and
6ecorum., The alternative to this is to set ND a
kultur Worship Of our own on the German plan and
thrust It down Russias throat on the point of al
bayonet, also on the German plan. If we are not
willing tordo. this we should go the whole way in
the other direction and be tolerant and even hum
BILE. Our experience on this continent has taught
us great deal, but il has not taught us the whole
truth about humanity. If Russia can learn from
Us, as she can we can learn at least as much from
her