Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-14
Our Commission to Russia

DAY by day the task before the special
Il commission to Russia grows more diff
fcult: day by day the probability of its sue
cess is diminished. and before the distin-
guished body of statesmen. soldiers and
economists appointed by the President reaches
Russia condition closely approaching
anarchy may have resulted If the commits
sion has to deal with government repre-
senting even approXma tely ma jority of the
people. its path will be comparatively smooth
but if it finds what now threatens 1t will be
confronted with task well-ngh impossible
OF fulilment.
Before it can bring Russia to sec the neces-
sity for continued fidelity to the allied cause,
it must aid Russia to find itself Even that
would not be hopeless. If Russia were merely
unsettled and uncertain, we're striving 10
unity itself. There are men on the commits
sion capable Of bringing order out of chaos,
ii chaos were not self-destructive But the
chaos that threatens Russia is self-destructive
First. there is the provisional government
representing the best thought Of the country;
second. there is the council of workmen's and
soldiers delegates. representing a consider
able part of labor and socialism; third. there
are the radicals, who against all govern
ment, and finally, there is the great mass of
peasants. even reported to be Selling
land. From this class, a reign of terror is
possible.
feThedtinS all anu SURFING all TO strife is
the reactionary element, for tho house Of
Romanof is not wholly without supporters
who hope by their support some day to win
place or fortune. And behind all. unresting.
is the influence Of Germany, which desires
internal turmoil and external inactivity or.
even better, establishment of an autocracy
that shall be Teutonic in its leanings
Unless Russia shall find itself sooner than
there is any reason to believe It will these
elements will he at each others Threats be-
lore long, and the bloodless revolution will
he forgotten in torrents OF blood Out Of
This Will come a stable government some day
and some day this government will be surely
democratic, though autocracy may have its
innings again before it is ovcrthrown forever
Meanwhile, however, democracy's present
cause will have no help from Russia unless
the Root commission reaches It's destination
in time.
If the commission is speeded and the pro-
Vlslonal government holds its own until it's
arrival. the message of cheer and assurance
of help Of every kind which the commission
VIII be enabled to deliver in person to the
leaders or all the conflicting powers may be
sufficient to Undue them all with courage and
determination and inspire them with loyalty
to the government. But if the departure of
the commission is postponed and it reaches
Russia only to find it ablaze it might almost
as we'll never have gone
1t is this contingency the United States
must prepare for. Even now Hindenburg
has been free TO withdraw thousands of SOL
diers from the eastern front. II the worst
comes-and 1t seems immnent--he can with
draw every German helmet from the east
and America must take Russia's place. VIII
America he ready?