The Washington herald., 1917-05-20

ago tnaL America WOuld ngnt Germany
on behalf OF the very men who made war
Mr.. Arthur Balfour in Washington con-
ferring with our President on how best
to organize victory, says Frank Harris,
writing in the current issue OF Pearson's
Magazine.
Mr.. Balfour has not changed in the
meanwhile He stands now precisely
where he stood then; he is the same con-
WINGED, contemptuous, courageous antag-
onist Of human equality that he was
when he sneered at the Boer farmers
and the dead level of ignorant herds
men"
In order to avoid any suspicion of
prejudice let me prove this before going
further. for I have an artists liking for
a man who Is true to type, and in this
case the type is a fine one.
For my article on the Russian revolu-
tion my knowledge. especially of the
Russian leaders. had to be refurbished
and brought up to date; accordingly ap-
piled to all the Russian leaders and
thinkers l could get in touch with in
New York City. One OF the ablest 1 met
was Leo Trotsky, a Russian Jew and
revolutionary, man who had spent and
been spent in the cause of social justice.
Trotsky's personality seemed to be
charming; regular features, broad fore
head, the whole face lit up by a pair of
splendid glowing eyes-the eyes Of an
enthusiast or poet. Trotsky talked to
me for hours sharpening, clarifying my
view Of this man and that, putting Prince
Lyov in his true place as a kindly, hon
est mediocrity with the same ease and
certainty that he classified the enthusi-
astic. young lawyer Kerensky or the So
cialist Tscheidze.
Possessed Keen Insight.
His precision OF knowledge was match
ed by his width Of vision. He saw clear
ly that as the revolution went on the
moderates would be eliminated; that the
extreme social revolutionaries would
surely come more and more to power,
for they would be reinforced b. those
freed from the prisons of absolutism in
South Russia and Siberia. He spoke Of
the new Russia as one would speak of a
beloved woman who had been defled
and tortured, and now having conquered
her prosecutors was intent on paying her
debt to humanity by ideal accomplish
ments.
Holy Russia as leader Of the free peo-
pies, Russia as the one country that
could make the United States of Europe
a possibility, the vision splendid
that enthraIled him.
you are going back?' asked.
Sure" he cried. "at once; dozen Of
us"
Are you sure Of getting to Petro-
grad?" asked.
Sure" he replied. Who'd stop us?"
England might stop you," ventured.
"EnglandH' he exclaimed. England is
with the allies. England is Russia's
friend. Why should England STOP us?"
England is the friend of the Gar"
replied England, you know, gave all
Milyukov's secrets six months ago to the
Cars government"
That's all past" he cried. England
-. 4
not II she could; you forget. we shall be
on a neutral ship. really under the Stars
and Stripes coming from an American
port; as safe as in our beds here"
Perhaps So" answered. II hope you
are right, but the English oligarchy is in
power; Balfour and his lieutenants.
Lords Curzon and Miner; they are not
in sympathy with revolutionaries who
dream OF social equality. They know
their real enemies"
Trotsky would not even listen: an opti-
mist by nature, he was now winged with
hope.
A week later the news came; Leo Trot-
sky and nine of his fellows had been
seized on board a neutral ship in Halifax.
in spite of their protests they were
thrown into prison and shortly after
wards transferred to a camp for in
termed German enemies at Amherst,
Canada
Wilson silent.
They protested to President Wilson
but without success. Meanwhile the pun
ishment Of these innocent enthusiasts is
continued. A word from President Will
son would probably free them: but he re-
mains silent, though. of course, not in
different. Similar high-handed action on
the part of Great Britain brought about
the war of 1872 and what We fought then
TO prevent we can hardly acceTt today
with complacence. The Imprisonment of
Trotsky and his friends is Artl ur Bal
four's reply to President Wilson warm
hearted welcome to the Russian revolu-
tfonaries and his wide-fiung surance
that America is entering this war to
fight for human freedom and foi democ-
racy against the injustices of a uocratic
tyranny.
I see Arthur Balfour entering the
White House. smiling and shaking hands
with President Wilson. but his right foot
Is planted on Leo Trotsky's face.
And Leo Trotslxy. the outcast Jew and
revolutionary, is far more valuable to
humanity than Arthur BalfouT, who took
him from a neutral ship in defiance of
law and right and now holds him in
prison.
Who is Mr.. Arthur Balfour? His out
ward. as Hamlet would say. is that of a
scholar and courtier, captivating sympa-
thetic. He is over six feet in height,
slight, STOPPING, with large head and
pTodigiously high forehead framed now
with silver hair: the complexion is as
fresh as that of boy; the eyes are blue.
patient. without being searching, pleas
antly mirroring pleasant surroundings.
He has perfect manners till he is crossed
He was called Miss Arabella at Eton till
people found out that he was as auto
cratic and hard as Nero. A few Incl
dents of his carer will paint its typical
autocrat to the life.
No easy Mark
I. The first time the outside public got
any inkling Of Balfour's quality was
when he became chief secretary for Ire
land. For a little while the Irish hoped
great things of him. He was so cour-
teous, so well-read. listened with such
sympathetic attention that they thought
he was an easy mark" as American
slang has 1t, but they soon found out
that, while listening to all they had to
say, he promised nothing, and would not
yield an inch. They attacked him then
in the House and insulted him to his
face. He listened to their abuse as he
had listened to their praise with the
same smiling, gentle courtesy, and went
on backing up the oligarchy, ruthlessly
evicting tenants, and running whole
cOuntrysides to the very verge of rebel