Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-16
ETHICAL SIDE OF
Continued from page one.l

represented-land owners, peasants,
members of the liberal professions,
manufacturers and workmen - in fact
the Russian people.
A few DAYS after the duma had is
sued its ultimatum the ministers of war
and of the navy addressed the duma,
reporting upon the work of their de-
partments, plaising the public organ
izations, that were working for the sup
port of the army and stating that there
must be cooperation between the duma
and the government
A few days later the prime minister
resigned.
Hampered by Colleagues
The new prime minister appointed at
tempted honestly to work with the
duma. He tried to rid himself of col
leagues in whom neither he nor the
duma had confidetnce He failed, how
ever, and was in turn dismissed and
a frankly reactionary minister was APP
pointed and those members of the gov
ernment whose names had been men
toned in the pro-German, intrigue were
retained in office The date for reopen
ing Of the duna was postponed.
When the duma convened finally on
/ February q it declared that the new
government did not represent respons-
ible government. In the meantime the
food situation in the large urban cen
tiers had become a real crisis. There
was danger of disorders breaking out.
| Then came the edict dissolving the
duma. After trying moral pressure TO
no purpose the duma had to resort to
revolutionary methods.
The revolution is purely political
revolution, with the single aim of es-
tabfishing representative government.
The duma leaders will be able to hold
the confidence of the people, for they
are acting in accordance with the pop
ular demands definitely voiced by the
all-comprehensiVe public organizations
mentioned above.
The same organizations have made it
possible to bring of this revolution
rapidly and without much violence.
Army Supports Duma
The duma is supported by the army,
for the army would have starved but
for the work of the public organiza-
tions, the presidents of which are among
the duma leaders. The fact that the
army is behind the duma also accounts
for the fact that this revolution was
attended by minimum of disorders.
The revolution is political but not
anti dynastic. Every effort was made
to convince the emperor that. he could
safely trust the people, that the people
were really to him and whole heartedly
back of the war, but it seemed impos-
sible to gain his ear. Constitutional
government was the demand of the
duma and is the object of the revolu-
tion. but the monarchieal idea is firmly
established in Russia and the movement
was directed, not against the duling
dynasty, but against the irresponsible
ministers who We're deceiving, or at
least giving bad counsel to tneir sover-
eign.
! Finally the aim of the movement and
its justification is to secure conditions
which win make it possible for Russia
to put forward all her strength for the
successful prosecution of tho war
Necessary to Win War.
Last summer leaders of the duma said
to me: "'Perhaps we will have to have
revolution before we can win the
war = These same leaders saw then
and admitted the danger of such a
move.
But they have finally realized that
i the movement had to be made and they
saw also-it is now clear-that it could
be concluded quickly and effectively
without weakening Russia from the
military point of view
Many looking forward to the military
operations of the coming spring, but
4 knowing the internal conditions in Rus
sia, had doubts. These doubts should
now be dispelled. Again, many know
4 ing of the pro-German intrigue going on
in Russia feared-not separate peace
hut premature settlement.
The revolution spells the end of these
anxieties. The revelation means more
active prosecution Of the war to vic
4 tory