New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01
By The COUNTESS OF UARWycr

WYE ARE all aware that the WORK.
" war is IN certain aspects viol.,
prelude to changes that will h
TO less violent in result. Prophecy Al
ways dangerous, is more than ever A,
eerous just now, for the forces at wort !,
Europe are incalculable, but the Russ,,
revolution has thrown an almost blindi,,
light upon the modern democratic 70,
denotes. The people have endured herS
tary rulers and secret diplomacy. Viii.
distrusting both. To-day the endur,r,
has wellnigh reached its limits, and n.
distrust has magnifed itself a thouu,!
fold. Autocrats and those who governs.
for them had one paramount duty in u.
eyes of the people; it was TO preserve A.
develop the civilization that fate 4,
chance or the indifference of the rank m;
file had intrusted to their care. In retur
for the proper maintenance Of essent,
things, and in some faint hope that "A.
spirit of progress would spread in lin.
even to the courts and the chancelleri.
Iotentates were permitted to remain pot.,
and diplomatists were left to carry o.,
their dubious business within four wal,
and without let or hindrance
I Privilege Before
Patriotism
The price of this concession to old c,.
ventions end Anticipated methods has be-,
too heavy for the world to endure. II,
last 0et us hope) Of the Romanof dy.
asty has fallen because he placed privileg.
before patriotism. To have carried on Ii.
war with the necessary vigor would b.
feared, result in the rapid growth Of lii.
eral institutions, in the manifestation b
the humblest moujik of the absurdity o.
all theories of the divine right of king
Long experience of kings shows that thg
are singularly lacking in the essence o.,
divinity and that their rights are fictir
that can only be treated as fact by tn
did of their least scrupulous servant
whose appeal is ever to the lowest senw
CT the unthinking.
In the crowned republic Of Great Britsr
and in the republics of France and Amer.
lea there has always been some measu,
of freedom for all; in Russia, Austria,
Italy and the German Empire more thar
two hundred million people have beer
slaves, even if they knew it not. 0ne-hs.
Of these have declared for freedom, an:
their appointed leaders have applied con.
mon sense 10 some Of the greatest prob
lens confronting them. Poles, Fins
Jews have already learned what democrUI
stands for and should counter revolutE,
CT some catastrophe from another quartz
break out their experiences, howeg
Lrief, should make a return to the o!
regime impossible.
Even this country will be more dens
cratic in the near future than it has besi
in the past. Already serious royalsi
flve recorded their belief that for the 4
curity of the future the kings of Englar,
must be free to choose their wives fro-
among their own people, and no longer r
termarry within the limited sphere q
royalties, who are in the great msjorV
OF cases unfit and sometimes degenerate
The old gang must be broken up. II breec'
dangerous alliances, unhealthy friendships
end tendencies to run counter to the vita
needs of the people. Had not the syn
pathies of Europe's rulers been with the
autocracy, the Russian revolution that fo-
lowed the japanese war would have proved
triumphant success.
The Price Of
Autocracy
The struggle that the aristocracy S
waged for power ami place, struggle We
democrats have watched with mlngs
amusement and disgust. is as nothing 70
The struggle that emperors and kings ar
waging throughout their lives. Take thsH'