South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-22

mankind las. at its critical period.
found a leader 10 direct 10 10
triumphant issue. From Moses,
who. out OF 10 jealous tribes OF
slaves in Egypt. organized and led
10 liberty a people that for $500
years has preserved its identity and
pursued its purposes. 10 Abraham
Lincoln. wb' Sc broadness OF vision,
kindness OF heart. and frmness in
the right as God gave him 10 see the
right. piloted our nation through the
civil war. and placed it firmly on the
foundation OF a supreme, indestruc-
table union. there has been a man
Cor every great crisis-a hero who
10y sheer force OF personality has
been able 10 lead the people 10
their goal.
The present world wide conflict
between democracy and autOcracy
has produced many able men; but,
30 far. few great leaders. Until re-
Gently only One-Lloyd George Of
Great Britain. an account Of whose
activities was given in the July is
sue OF The Magazine-has stood out
prominently. But "A few weeks ago,
when the need seemed the sorest,
there appeared another great leader
who is apparently destined TO do for
Russia. and incidentally. for the
allies, what Moses did for Israel,
Washington and Lincoln for Amer
lea. and. particularly. what David
LLOYD George has been doing for
Great Britain. This leader is the
Siberian Slav. Alexander Kerensky.
only So vesrs old. suffering from an
IncurabIe malady that compels him,
after each few weeks of strenuous
pndeavor. to seek a sanitarium for
few days rest, he has managed, by
sheer force OF personality. TO hold
together the turbulent elements of
which The New Russia is composed.
His efforts recently reached a eli
max in the beginning or a new Of
fensive by the Russian army, the ini-
tial action OF which. he. as minister
of war. led I'm person.
Kerensky. long before the present
crisis arose. had become noted as one
Of the ablest lawyers or Russia. His
advocacy OF unpopular causes had
brought him into nationwide prom
inence Like Lloyd George. his SYM
pathies were with the down trodden
masses, and his services were ever
at the command of the victims of
class privilege and autocratic op-
preston. The persecution Of the
Jews by the BLACK Hundred" espe-
ciaIIy awakened his pity and aroused
his indignation. He was a leading
counsel in the defense OF Bellies
who was a victim OF the age-old su-
perstition that the Jews murder
Christian children. His liberal acti-
ivties and bold utterances made him
dreaded and hated by the autocracy.
lie was several times threatened
with exile. and once actually i'm
prisoned: but his popularity with the
people restrained the hand OF the
government
He became n member OF the
Duma. the Russian parliament.
There. like Lloyd George IN Eng
land. ne was free lance. ever ag-
gressive in unfolding popular rights
rather than party principles. Po-
litically. he was classed as a social
ist-populist: and the vigor of his at
tacks upon autocratic abuses
brought him the title of the fire
brand" When. last February, the
ear ordered the dissolution OF the
Duma. Kerensky was foremost in
IL ig the order He openly de-
- I. 1--WE will not go. We will
.ay here. and defend the rights of
the eople" The Duma still is
Their The car il was that went.
Ther were other strong leaders
amoi Y the liberal Russians whose
names were more in evidence than
that OF Kerensky during the seven
DAYS revolution. which. beginning
March s with the bread riots in Pc
trograd. ended March 10 with the
abdication Of the car. and the es-
Enlistment OF a provisional govern
ment IN which Kerensky was made
minister OF Justice. The revolution
demonstrated that the army was on
the de of democracy. But perilous
day, followed. In their new-found
liberty. soldiers and workmen were
like children let out OF school Pro
German influences which had con-
trolled the autocracy. were now ex-
ercised 10 dsmoralize the army In
Petrograd sch influences were par
ticularly manifest. Moreover. among
the eAtieS EtNalitl iIOn clDtIld ana
foreign lands. were other tools of
he German Ecv eminent and pa
ci0st socialists lbmOring for peace
at any price. a local council OF
soldiers and worknen at Petrograd
dehed the provisional government
and attempted 10 dictate its policy.
Soldiers fraternized with the enemy.
assertions began. regiments muffin
led. officers were killed by their
men. generals resigned their com
u.ands. the prov isionaI government
was powerless 10 enforce its author
ity. and chaos seemed 10 reign. In
April. Il looked as though Russia as
an active factor in the war must be
counted out, at least for this year.
Then Kerensky, with his marvel
Gus gift for leadership. came 10 the
rescue. lie understood his people.
He knew the great heart of Russia.
and ne knew how 90 touch that
heart. In the worst phase OF the
chaos he said
order and economic permanency
r-,-r-,U TFhFs harfeBr-