The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-18
lew oAARLEs EDWARD RUSSELL.

II YOU want to get Russia straight IN
YOUR mind you must begin with the
first foundation fact, which is this;
The revolution there was different
from any other revolution.
All the rest have been political. inns
was about one.fifth political and about
four.fifths something else.
Revolution had been taught many
Years in Russia. Taught secretly, Oh
course, underground. in cellars, stealth
Ilv and In whispered speech, but taught.
Those that taught it taught great
deal more than merely the notion that
the rule OF the Gear must be over
thrown.
Here is the first place where we In
America get of on the wrong foot
we have one fixed, abiding, persist
emit conception of the Russian revou-
ZIONIST as a man with deadly hatred
Of the Car We don't understand that
he planned an entirely new system OF
society, that he had whole vast creed
Of social betterment In which the over
throw of the Gear was nothing but an
incident.
There never was broader creed
It embraced the whole world.
The Russian revolutionist dreamed
Of a free Russia only as part of free
world. Free not alone from czars and
political despotism, but free also from
poverty, injustice, hatred, competition
and war.
All mankind is one great family; all
races in one great nation.
Happiness, joy, sufficiency for all;
and universal peace.
In that dream he cared little more for
Russia than for any other corner Of
the world federation. Perhaps he
cared not at all, for it, or made him
self believe that he didn't. Anyway,
all the ordinary appeals Of patriotism
that SO much move other men came
to seem to him not praiseworthy, as we
think them, but hateful.
World patriotism was his creed.
Universal brotherhood, universal good
will, no more national barriers, no
more national prejudices, made up Its
first article. And universal peace.
To tell the truth it was creed that
IN his time he did not expect to see put
into practice. He knew that some day
II would come true, but for his own life
time he looked forward to nothing but
covert agitation, secret meetings, peril,
GUS escapes from the ever watchful po.
lice, and either Siberia or the gallows
40 the boundary Of his life.
The bloody story Of the futile revo.
luton Of 1905 taught him the terrible
lesson. The Car and his power were
fast rooted in the very foundations Of
things, not to be torn out except with
long, painful, toilsome efforts stretch.
ed over years,
have talked with many OF the Rus.
sian reVolutlonists. have found mono
that on March IL had any hope that
the curse hanging over their country
300 years would in their time be lift.
ed.
and then, on March u, the whole
thing, without a moments warning,
began to crack and bend. On March Il
the revolution that no man had planned
was complete, the older order had van.
ished, the wonder Of dazzling New
Day burst upon Russia,
Then the Russian revolutionist
scared to the skies in an uncontrolla.
bic burst Of enthusiasm.
The thing had come after all! All
the old foundations had been swept
away over night. The dreams Of so
many years were not idle. Behold they
were about to be realities before his
very eyes!
The Car was gone and men we're
free, not alone from Cars and political
despotism. but free also from poverty,
injustice, hatred, competition-AND
WAR?
Ah!-well, there was the trouble
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