The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-19

dignity.
 1 general broadening is freedom such as real republic guarantees. A generation ago, when the Mini lists were terrorizing Russia in an effort to pave the way for demo- cratic constitution, the imperialists
 justified autocracy with more ve- hemence than usual The masses, they said, were ignorant and were 1 disposed to rise in revolt against au- 1 thority and must therefore be ruled with an iron rod. The policy of the government was to keep the people in 1 ignorance, and if any of them dared assert themselves they were chastised and sent to the mines. Nothing could have been more heartless than the oppression of the so-called flower l classes" There never was time 
 when the masses deserved harsh treat ment. They needed only encourage ment to rise. With such encourage ment they would have gone forth eag- erly to help in the building up of great Russia. The new order will .z.x L. ,,.x.I,o.41J
 But what effect will liberal gov- ernment have on the entente powers It will strengthen the side of the allies immeasurably. The imperial court and the nobility were honey-combed with Teutonic sentiment. Pro-Ger- man reactionaries were becoming more and more numerous. Men in high place were agitating openly for separate peace with the central powers.
 All the German drift in Russia has been stopped and there will be no more of it as long as the leaders in the Duma keep a firm hand on the government The revolution has cer- tainly cleared the atmosphere.
 * *
 The MT. Willard who is figuring promi- nently in the public prints is not the cele- brated Mr. Jess Willard, but the president of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, who is something of scrapper himself. * MT Gerard says he wouldn't be afraid to lead a regiment of German-Americans if we have war with Germany Further more, he wouldn't issue his orders over the telephone.
 Patriotic F'renchmen too old to fight, first offer their sons and then their dogs to France A new Joan of Arc isn't need ed as long as they continue to show that spirit.
 London theatregoers scarcely looked up when the latest Zeppelin raid was reported. Maybe the shows they attend ed had made them temporarily tired of life.
 Sunday is a good day for reflection. It is to be hoped that the railway heads and their employees did not miss the op- portunity it afforded to do some hard thinking.
 A German writer says the Germans will never be separated from their Kaiser. A great many Russians thought they would never be separated from their Czar. The report that Maine is dryer than ever was probably set aaoat by some thirsty visitor who found it more diff cult than usual to locate a drink. * There Is some talk to that effect. but 1t would be considerably harder to dis lodge the Kaiser than it was to bump the Czar off his throne A contemporary says Birmingham has several elephants on her hands. in addi- ton to Miss Fancy. However. no names were mentioned.
 I Timorous voyagers who used to keep a sharp lookout for sea serpents now ex- perience the same thrills when . subma- rine is sighted.
 l If the vacant lots are utilized for gar- dens where will the future baseball stars of the country get their spring training?
 i An Age-Herald reporter found Henry Ford a democratic man. Being demo- cratic and close to the people is Henry's long suit
 The proposal to place guns on New York skyscrapers will not deter Ger many from declaring war on this coun- try
 With all due respect to genius we
 don't care hoot if Mary Garden re-
 duces her weight another pound or not.