Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-04
RIGA ABANDONED, PETROGRAD NEXT?

With the abandonment of Riga by the Russians tne
fall OF Petrograd seems to be within sight. The Germans.
in capturing Riga, come into possession of a Baltic port
which will greatly facilitate their campaigns, as its pos
embarrassed them in the past. The dispatches indicate
the probability of the removal Of the Russian capital to
Moscow, where the effort to organize the provisional gov
erHment on q working basis will be continued.
The one hopeful feature of the Russian situation,
from q military standpoint, at least, is the apparently fix
ed discrimination of the Russian masses to conclude no
peace with Germany except on q basis which viii be In
accord with the desires of our own nation and the others
associated with her. II that feeling continues there will
always remain the possibility Of the reorganization Of the
Russian armies as effective forces, and Russia may still
play an important part in the closing of the great war.
No writer has stated more clearly and forcefully the
manner IN which American pacifism works to the injury
of this nation by Its Influence on Russian opinion. Mr..
Russell, as every ono knows, was one of the >leading So
cialfsts of the United States until a few months ago. We
take 1t that his economic views have undergone no
change. But when he found that the influence of the
Socialist organization was being used to tie the hands
OF the American government in the greatest crisis that
has ever existed in the history Of the nation, he severed
his connection with that organization and, subordinating
economies to patriotism, he took his stand squarely in "a
vcr of the vigorous prosecution of the war by the Amer
lean people.
AS q member Of the Root commission he has mad
unusual opportunity to observe the working Of the Rus
sian mind. And he declares emphatically that the ev-
licences of reluctance to deal with the war as it needs to
be dealt with, evidences which are found in congress and
here and there throughout the country, are being used
IN Russia by German agents and German sympath1zerS to
create the impression that the United States is not In the
war in earnest. This reacts on the Russian conscious
ness and holds in check the forces which otherwise would
be able to organize q stable government and provide for
vigorous military action.
We scarcely need the testimony Of any individual
to this fact, because it could not be otherwise. With
ever the slight knowledge Of Russian conditions which
the American people possess with the evidence of our
senses as to the activities Of German ropagandists in this
country, and with the faintest knowledge Of human ma
ture, 1t must be evident to any intelligent person who
will use his intelligence that any evidence here of holding
back will be magnified abroad, and will be used in its
distorted form to influence opinion in Russia against the
war. But with this knowledge we have the testimony Of
an eyewitness whose record must absolve him of AIN sus-
picion Of being a "militartst." ~
The capture of important Russian cities by the Ger
mans will set back Russia's rehabilitation. It will stimu-
late and strengthen the German cause. It will make
German autocracy just that much more difficult to over
come. It will impose longer campaigns and fiercer bat
ties on our own soldiers. 1t will make necessary greater
effort on the part Of Americans at home. It will deprive
more Americans of comforts and 1t will rob more Ameri-
can homes OF their ~first-born.
And yet, people who are American by birth, and who
claim to be American in spirit, are, through societies of
various kinds and individually. expressing the very senti-
ments which contribute to these results. Members Of the
American congress have declared their sympathy with
them. One former United States senator is prominent in
one of these societies. They have been excluded from
several states, but the governor of North Dakota and the
mayor OF Chicago appear to have a fellow feeling for
them.
In, the meantime It liz the duty Of those who believe
in the American government and what it is doing to take
a firm stand and repair, as best they can, the injury that
is being done. @