The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-08
SENTIMENT DIVIDED
ON RUSSIAN revolt
German-American Press Diff
fers as to Significance
of Revolution.
(By the Editor of a German American
NeWSpaporO

(By the Editor of a German American
Newspaper)
The German language press in the
United States was confronted with a
rather difficult problem when the news
of the Russian revolution came in. The
editorial comments clearly show that
the emotions caused by this event were
conflicting
SympathieS for republican institu-
tons would under ordinary circum-
stances have made the German Ian
guage papers hail the downfall of car
ism with undisgnised rejoicing: and
indeed most of them dwelt with sat
isfaction on this aspect of the Russian
dispatches, but Immediately the qucs-
ton presented itself what influence
the revolution would have on the
great war. and that is Just where the
dilemma arose.
Socialist Papers Pleased.
Only the straight out socialistic pa
pers were perfectly happy: they. like
the Volkszeitung of New York, have
never during the whole war abandoned
the Categorical imperative" of inter-
nationalism, and their task was easy
when the car was deposed In their
opinion every revolution is good
revolution: of course. they prefer the
kind bearing the mark of socialism or
communism. When these editors saw
that the Russian overtnrn was more Of
political than of a social nature their
JOY was somewhat diminished. but they
are still happy over the outcome.
The other German language papers
are principally interesting for their
views on the influence of the revolution
will have on the conduct of the war
"A people shaken by interior convul-
sions," says the Stats Zeitung. New
York, lis not capable of mastering a
task requiring the united will of the
people and the entire resources Of
country A people in the throes of
revolution cannot conduct a war sue
cessfully."
The German Herod," Of New York
says: THE editor is not in favor of
any monarchy, but he recognizes the
enormous difficulty in the way of the
new Russian republic and he is in
clined to caution his readers against
regarding the present state of affairs
in Russia IS likely to continue without
lively struggle. Aside from the ma
chinations of the cars party there is
danger to the new regime threatening
from another quarter. The working
mans party demands a social repub
Should this party develop holding
classes are certain to become opposed
to the new order of things.
while there were graft and inca
pacity under the old regime. any one
who did not NEEDLE in politics was
safe and his property protected"
Some papers pinned their faith to
the army officers. declaring like the
Peoria tlllinoisD Some. that the army |
at the front would probably side with
the car. The California Demokrat, |
however, declares that such expecta-
tons might have been well founded
IN the beginning of the war. but since
then most of the old officers have been
Killed or have otherwise become in
capacltatcd and their places have been
taken by students, Some regiments,
Tor Instance, have lost three quarters
Of their officers. The common soldier
has no opinion of his own; he depends
on his superiors.
som" German language papers, like
the Milwaukee HcrOld, pointed out
that the Orthodox church had reason I q
be grateful to the car and that it