Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-16
RUSSIA BREAKS IT'S CHAINS

| d UsSIA's hour has struck The agony
~ Of a thousand years has brought
forth a nation. The revolution in Petro
grad may fail. but the revolution is not
confined to Petrograd. Forces have been
set in motion throughout the empire
which will make the old regime impossi
BILE, even though Russia has to accept an
inconclusive peace. A people has become
a nation, a fact which transcends the
changing Of the map of Europe.
Russia has been the great mystery, the
unknown factor. from the beginning of
the war, due to something far deeper than
contradictory news reports or misinter-
probation of Russian history by the west.
ern world. 1t is the incalculable poten-
tialities of religion that make the real
mystery. Unlike their western allies.
the Russian people are moved primarily
by religious impulses, whose ultimate re.
suits men cannot forecast in the way that
they analyze tho political manipulations
OF French Socialists and English finan-
ciers and foretell their developments.
The immediate causes of the revolu-
tion lay in the actions Of educated men
in civic bodies-the zemstvos-which had
united to bring order out Of chaos in the
equipment of the armies. These local
assemblies aided by unions of workers.
were determined to organize efficient
methods and Illustrate the plots of reac-
tionary mobiles who seek peace with Ger
many. 1t was because the Duma en-
couraged their efforts that It was sus-
pended. Thus the revolt is not local to
Petrograd, which is said to be controlled
by 10000 troops loyal to the Duma, but
spreads throughout the country through
the efforts OF the provincial bodies It Is
an amazing reversal Of the classic prob
lem Of strong central Government work.
ing for efficiency against the laxity of
democratic forces-it is the attempt to
enforce efficiency by democracy against
autocracy, a precarious and perilous un-
dertaking.
All may depend on the general officers
in the field. If they believe the tide has
turned against the reactionaries, they
may work with the new Government with
a vigor that will mean the end of Ger
many's dream Of a Russian collapse. If
they believe there is a chance to discredit
the Duma before the people, they may
risk civil war, though It mean a weaken.
ing on the northern end of the line and
retreat before the Germans; but this is on
the assumption that the officers are for
the most part reactionary. That the War
OfTice has had to consider public opinion
has been shown by the success of the
army operating against the Turks-the
infidels--for that is an intensely popular
campaign. a holy war. However much
the Government may have fiddled with
half-heart4d campaign against the Ger.
mans, It has not dared to let up on the
Turks.
The effect on England and France will
be momentous. 1t can be safely predicted
that even II the situation works out to a
separate peace made by Russia, which is
improbable. England will not quit The
release Of the German armies operating
against Russia for action on the western
front would probably mean that the
entire army held in England for home
defense would be shipped across the
channel to restore the equilibrium of
forces. One ominous feature is the reor-
ganization of German strategy on the
western front, which has been interpreted
as a preparation for a German drive with
nearly a million men. If so. has Hinden.
burg been looking for that million to the
troops which he knew would soon be able
to retire triumphant from Russia bent
on peace with every one but its own
tyrants?