Semi-weekly herald., 1917-08-13
WHAT RUSSIA HAS
DONE IN PAST THREE YEARS

PETROGRAD, Aug. 6.-The year
just passed witnessed Russia's re-
birth. The year to come will show
whether the miracle of that birth can
be repeated in another which will
bring the infant to a mans power
among nations. Her hope rests large
ly on one man, Alexander F. Keren-
sky, youthful premier and war minis
ter.
In five days Russia went thru the
violent transition from autocracy to
democracy. 1t was the last bloody
revolution in the history of the world.
Five months from the date of that
revolution is now nearly at hand and
in that period the Democracy of Rus
sia has survived despite Germany's
most desperate efforts at propaganda
and by arms. Russia's vast territory
has been kept intact. Her armies
have launched a great offensive. Her
government has put down insurrec-
ton Of German inspired maleontents.
Her people are working out their own
problems of government, almost a
unit for prosecution of war against
Germany until democracy shall be
made safe for the world.
Nicholas, Car Of all the Russia's,
last of the worlds absolutist monar-
chists Except the kaiser) abdicated
his proud palace at midnight on Mar
ch 16. The reins of government were
assumed by the only organization of
the people then assembled-the duma
members. 1t was u makeshift, pal
pably. Therefore all Russia began
devising impromptu methods of ex.
pressing the popular will.
Next to develop as a power in
the new Russia was a local council
of delegates from the workmen and
soldiers, in PetIograd. Because it was
on the ground, at the seat Of govern
ment, this local council before long
assumed supreme Importance in the
government.
But the Petrograd council was only
one of thousands of similar units,
Workmen and soldiers all over Rus.
sia began meeting and selecting dele
gates. Peasants elected their repre-
sentatives. Other classes Of workers
elected theirs. These delegates met
at the larger cities and named dele
gates to an all Russia conference at
Petrograd, which would represent the
voice of that particular class of peo-
pie.
| First of these all Russia confer
ences to meet was that of the sol
dicrs and worlmen. 1t absorbed at
once the small local Petrograd coun-
Gil. Then came the peasants con
ference literally of the agrarian
party believers. The workmens' party
in Russia is literally the part of the
peasants, so that before long the all
Russian conference of workmen and
soldiers began to represent all of
Russla-an impromptu parliament
| S'nsiNiN' W tAt lhil'nb h'Biot VI tNtiy
shade of public opinion and the most
democratic nssemblage in the en-
,iro world When the big conferen-
ce adjourned, il left an executive
council to represent 1t.
This executive council today has be
come the real Russia government.
Its supporters and representatives
dominate the ministerial board. The
ministers themselves are virtual re-
sponsible to it. 1t is radical body.
Its members would class as Socialists
! in the United States. Some of them
are even more extreme in their views
than socialists.
This Capitalization of power in the
peoples hands thru peoples Assem-.
bly, will make shift until Russia
can call constitutional assembly
and decide the exact form of her gov
ernment,. 1t was not achieved with
out bloodshed.
For more than year Germany has
been working thru the pro-Germar
Russian court TO achieve a separate
peace with the car. Always to the
north Germany saw Russia's vas,
hordes. Thru the autocracy which
had contempt for Rlssia's plain peo-
pie was too lazy and too contemp
uous to provide proper arms and
equipment and too rotten with graf
to make these hordes formidable
fighting men-but Germany always
feared them. Germany knew the plain
Russian citizens had always hated her
as much because the cgar and all his
ministers We're pro-Gcrman.
Therefore when the plain citizens
OF Russia assumed the power of that