The Washington times., 1917-04-04
Democracy vs., Autocracy

The Russian revolution gave the
President his great opportunity for
the unprecedented arraignment Of
autocratic government which was an
important theme of his address to
Congress. The allied nations of
Europe who are now fighting against
the central empires are democratic
nations, although Great Britain,
Italy, and Roumania still retain the
empty forms of monarchy. To these
and to France and Russia is now
Joined the first and greatest democ-
racy of modern times. The Presi-
dent struck a new note in denoun-
cling autocracy as the chief enemy
of world peace. He condemns it not
for its tyranny, but because in the
very nature of things it cannot keep
faith. The significant sentences are
these:
A steadfast concert of peace
can never be maintained except
by a partnership of democratic
nations. No autocratic govern
ment could be trusted to keep
faith within 1t or observe its
covenants. Only free peoples
can hold their purpose and their
honor steady to a common end
and prefer the interests of man
kind to any narrow interest OF
their own.
The reference to free Russia is in
the same strain.
Here is a ft partner in a league
OF honor.
The effect of this declaration upon
the mind of Europe will be immeas-
urable. 1t will hearten the liberal
element in Great Britain as much as
the new democracy of Russia. More
than that, it will have its full effect
upon the minds of the German peo-
pie, especially as the President was
careful to say that we have nothing
but friendship for the German peo-
pie. Because they had submitted to
the autocratic pretensions of the
Hohenzollerns, the people were pow
erless to prevent the entrance Of
Germany into the war, although they
have been called upon to make un-
speakable sacrifices for its prosecu-
tion. The publication of the Presi-
dents address in Germany, if per-
mitted at all, will be like the explo-
sion of moral dynamite. That the
head of a great nation should serve
notice upon the German government
that it is unfit to associate with the
governments of other civilized ma
tions because it cannot Keep faith is
the gravest condemnation possible.
1t should lay bare before the German
people the infamy and iniGuity of
their ruling power when stripped of
its pretensions Of the divine right to
rule.
And this conception of democracy
as essential to the peace of the
world gives the United States of
America something to fight for to
the bitter end which rises as an ideal
far above the righting of wrongs,
the avenging of injuries, or even the
vindication of national honor. 1t
changes the very issue of the con-
flict from the question whether the
entente powers or the central en-
pires should win to a Ear more i'm
portant question, whether democracy
or autocracy shall prevail. On that
issue no man worthy to be called an
American, whatever his race or ma
tivity may be, can fail to offer as a
test of loyalty all that he has and
all that he is. On the right side of
that issue a great and growing politi-
cal party in Germany itself stands
firm. The phrase "The Republic of
Germany" has already been boldly
uttered in the Reichstag.
Theoretically, there is such a thing
as nation being so right that IL