The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-17
BY Charles Edward Russell.
downright 1917, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Association)

Enterprise AssOciation)
Will Russia fight?
OF the thousands Of eager questions
pumped at the Root commission, OF
which was a member, since 1t came
hack on American soil, this has out
numbered all the others together.
Will Russia fight? o.,
Yes! Russia will fight! She will
fight with courage, skill, persistence
and success. She will put up strict
" first class article Of fight and she
will win with it.
Provided only that she gets any
kind of fair chance and that the
United States of America will let her
fight,
find that millions Of US seem to
have this whole Russian business
wrong end to. We think, for instance
that If Russia is not now pushing the
war vigorously the reason is that the
Russians have a great, broad streak
of yellow in them-yellow and not
much else.
This is the most monstrous fake
and lie that was ever believed by one
nation Of another. 1t Is SANDER and
libel and ought to be dropped, buried
and forgotten.
There are no drawer men on the
face Of this earth than the great ma.
jority OF the Russian soldiers. Ask
anyone that has seen them in action,
ask those that saw the marvellous and
almost incredible heroism displayed
by the Russian army in the famous
movements of the summer Of 1915. Ask
anyone that can tell you OF the mass
es Of Russian soldiers that have gone
unarmed against the best equipped
troops in the world and have fought
them with bare hands
To hear the uniformed casting re-
Elections upon the valor of such men
or sneering at the Russian nation as
yellow" is a hard strain on patient
tolerance.
The real reason for the apparent
halt and hesitation on Russia's part
since the revolution Is something very
different. What it is hope to be able
to make clear In the articles that will
follow this, and l think you will agree
with me before l am through that the
harsh criticism Of Russia by any Amer
lean is rankly unjust and that what
the real situation calls for is the ut
most sympathy and not word Of
blame.
Beset by thousand difficulties and
dangers, problems and perpleXities
such as no nation has ever faced, all
kinds Of difficulties Of which you In
this country have never heard nor sus-
pected, nor dreamed, Russia has kept
on with the most amazing fortitude
and resolution, and when you come to
know the whole story you will be fill.
ed with wonder to know that she has
done as we'll as she has,
None but very great people could
have pulled out Of that hole.
But for today l want to talk about
our own country.
You think the question whether Rus
STA will fight depends upon Russia.
Let me tell you something.
It depends far more upon you.
You have no need to worry about
Russia so far as she herself and alone
is concerned. You have more reason
to worry about the United States,
/ come home to find that at the
worst possible moment that the devil
himself could devise, this nation Is lis
tening to a horde Of traitors, German
agents. selfish politicians, and chick
en- hearted peace at any pricers bah
bling lot of stuff loaded with the
deadliest peril for Russian and for
America.
/ see members of congress that IN.
rebuked introduce resolutions for q
peace conference or demand q state
ment Of the terms of peace or other
wise do Potsdam's dirtiest work.
/ hear Of peace conventions" and
''peace leagues" at time when every
Continued on Page 1o.)