Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
By ISAAC r. MARcossoN.

~ UsSA II today the worlds puz-
IO Gle. II a hrst-hand study of
I'm the aftermath OF the most sig
oS nifcant upheaval since the
French revolution can offer any direct
animated question mark for some time
TO come. This does not mean that her
future IL uncertain. Politically. the ma
tion has found itself. The difficulty lies
with the extremists now in control who
do not know what they want Liberty
and equality are new toys. the posses
sion of which is dazzling and discon-
oerttng To see Russia today is to see
nation literally mad with freedom.
Hence the confusion which has marked
the transition from autocracy to de-
mocracy.
VIII Russia make good?' is the
query which has greeted me on all
sides ever since my return.
So far as the allied cause Is con-
eerned. she now seems to have become
looks like near decentralization is mere
" the Russian nature running its emo
tional course. Despite the excuses and
abuses of the new-found power. the
country has definitely achieved two his
toric things
The first is the permanent overthrow
ter what happens. 1t is unlikely that
any member of that Teuton-taned fam
fly will ever rise to power in Russia
again The second is that self-govern-
ment has definitely taken up its abode
where once oppression ruled.
The average American, however finds
Il difficult to reconcile this great eman-
cipation with the clash of purpose that
now threatens the new freedom. With
q dispassionate review of all that has
happened in Russia must come a larger
understanding of the indiscretions that
impeded reconstruction.
Civilization was somewhat led astray
by the almost incredible calm and ra-
pidity with which the revolt was car
fled out. Most persons forgot that it was
q complete revolution and not mere
change in government. The whole struc-
ture of national organization was up
rooted. 1t was impossible TO take a
readymade system on the shelf and
substitute II for the hideous regime
that had gone to it's DOOM Hence the
disorder and the disunion- i know of
no better explanation of the hysterica1
debauch into which Russia plunged and
from which she has not recovered than
TO give a picture of Petrograd as I
found it hot on the heels of the his
toric happenings which overthrow the
car.
was with the Russian people while
they were enjoying the first fruits of free
DOM Like prisoners long immured in the
dark and suddenly hurled into the sun
shine. they blinked In the strange light
Of an unfamiliar emancipation. The one
time baihwick Of the car was a study
IN scarlet-animate like an American city
during national convention. The Nevski
Prospect, once the street Of sacrifice, was
now the highway of happiness.
= Everybody talked, paraded. had a the
DRY or a program The voice Of Russia,
long stihed, was making up for lost time
Liberty was a new sensation and the
populace reveled In II, proud. sensitive,
that it might disappear like
q dream. The town buzzed like Babel
Il was a whiriwind OF plan and project
Can order and economic perrnanency
come out OF this chaos?" asked Keren-
sky. wizard of that marvellous hour.
= Certainly" he replied. 81 Will tell you
Why. Is not this healthy IL heated dis
cussion which dissolves in the air in
harmless oratory better than sinister and
silent plots Our people have Just dis
learning to use restraining 1t perhaps
IN the fear that 1t might be suppressed
before they can say all they want to say.
When they learn that they are free to
talk II will subside and get down TO
normal life again.
He said this at the end OF April His
people are still talking. 1t Is the Russian