Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-24
EUROPE SOON WILL
. Be DEMOCRAT|zED
EV.CHESSMAN
DELIVERS ADDRESS IN WHICH HE
FORECASTS DOWNFALL OF I'M
PERlALisM IN WAR RIDDEN Ma
TIONS.

]
the people" of all monarchial forms of
government in the old world, Rev.
George Washington Chessman deliver
ed stirring address last night upon
"rhe Twilight OF the Kings" at the
regular meeting of the Fortnightly
Club at the home of Attorney Clarence
Griggs on Ottawa avenue.
The overthrow of the Russian Rom
anoffs and the prediction that the
Hohenzollerns of Germany and
!Iapsburgs of the dual monarchy will
socn be retired to private life were
included in Rev. Cheeseman's strong
: arraignment OF the crowned heads and
their responsibility in the present
world war. He said:
Some one has tersely pointed out
that "the Russian Revolution Is the
morning whistle for the parasitic des'
pots and aristocrats of Europe to get
up to go to work" 1t may be too
early for dogGlatic declarations with
regard to the permanence of this
suddenly achieved democracy but not
Withstanding it is too splendid
Transformation to go unpictured In
rhetoric of glowing optimism
THE American bern citizen, nurtur-
cd from earliest school days on prin-
ciples of equal rights and privileges
to all in land whose magma charta
is freedom saturated constitution,
will be pardoned if he greets the news
of abdication of the Car with gram
matical sentences made up of extrav-
agant superlatives Of approval.
1T has seemed for a long time that
Republican France and Democratic
Great Britain were yoked up with a
; most unnatural ally. for what in com
mon has representative government
; with absolute monarchy? Where the
inherent ideals Of the two types Of
: government were 40 Numerically OPP
y posed It is no cause for wonder that
7 tho leadership of Franco and Britain
spent slcepless nights trying to invent
G a PLAUSIBLE ground for such an unholy
e alliance But that is all changed now
Il since absoutism has gone to the scrap
Q heap in Russia. 1t is no longer imper-
u ialistic Russia but Russia in the sue
a cessful birth-pangs of new era OF
popular government. No longer Is the
G alliance unnatural and calling loud for
p justification The allies now are all
y birds of a feather flocking together
@ and the cohesive principles OF liberty
t. and ideals Of humanity are tending
" NIGHTLY to reinforce and make irwin.
s chile the morale of the men at the
$ front.
n "The question pressing upon thinK
ing minds and voiced in many quar-
Y ters is. "ls Russian emancipation from
II thc rule of the bureaucracy ana
>. dark forces mere flash in the pan
4. Is it a spectacular turn in events with
d but fimsy guarantee OF permanence
It or. Is the Revolution a real focal POM
AZ that marks a transition from auto
10 cratic rule?
Americans fondly hope that th'
change is decisive and lasting.
means a giant contribution to the sup
eriorty of our form of government
long laughed at by the crowned head'
of Europe. It strengthens our eohVlc
]. tion that representative government
the type OF government to survive II
~ the evolutionary process. IL Iufthe
a nails the lie that the masses are unii
n. TO rule. that the few at the top mus
At rule the many at the bottom breau
! inc the genial atmosphere OF freedol
70 il has been our persistent convictlo
=, that the dynasty of princes of Goo
~ given right to rule is mediaeval G
mo- ancient doctrine long outlawed. Wh
=. should we not be jubilant then whe
1, Russia, titanic stronghold OF apsoi'
- tism should come over to our convi
Va Etjous. Why should we not shout wit
:, iov that the principle Of the divif
right To rule should suffer total ecl1ps
before the sun of democracy In on
Of the most densely populated natioi
of earth.
"The hour Of demise for inheritt
Il prjyilege seems to have struck.
new day of freedom seems to ha'
oo dawned for the common man the wor
,st over That absolutism is crumbling
mo- n ubiuuitous fact. Representative go
ig ernment Is in the ascendency accelt
ne ated nightly by the revolutiora
ad happenings of these latter days. Fl
t,o star Of the Romanoifs has lost its iiX
no. place in the heavens Of world cover
ihe ments, throne propped by bayont
mi has precipitously collapsed.
Nations. like individuals, live not
themselves alone. Russias resurr'
tion glow has become an urora b
oco calls radiating its luminous rays
-, the remaining throne schackled
-, tions and instilling hope OF further
-, tional reseurrections. The Petrogi
- earthquake has not only tumbled
,, Cars crown and scepter but also !
~, not failed to register on the royal st
p mographs in Berlin ana Vienna.