Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-21
RUSSIA'S REVOLUTION.

|
(From the New York WORLDLY
| Russia has been in the midst of a
political revolution for months, and
Russian liberalism, acting through the
Duma, is finally in physical posses
sion of the Government.
The addiction of Gar Nicholas
marks the passing of the old regime,
AS regent, the Grand Duke Michael,
whatever powers he may assume to
exercise, can never hope to repre-
sent the same type of absolutism, be-
hind which traitors and criminals of
Ministerial rank have found shelter.
The change came with startling
and dramatic rapidity. AS the sit
uation is described from London and
Berlin, the Duma refused to obey
the imperial rescript to dissolve, and
voted to continue its meetings. An
Executive COMMITTEE was appointed,
headed by the President of the Durna,
which after arresting the Ministers
declared itself Provisional Govern
ment and announced it's intention Of
creating a new Government. With
the assistance of the army it was
soon in control
While the food situation in Petro-
grad and the breakdown of trans
portation service were made the basis
for this revolutionary undertaking
they were not the cause but rather
the opportunity.
Liberalism has been making extra
ordinary strides in Russia since the
beginning of the war, to the conster-
nation of the old regime. It was to
check the liberal movement that the
Russian autocracy, which is pro- Ger
man at heart, began it's negotiations
with Berlin for separate peace and
gave it's support to the German sug-
gestion of an ultimate alliance of
Germany, ustria-Hungary, Russia
and Japan to maintain the principles
of absolute government. The liberal
elements in Russia which had pre-
viously been the peace elements were
thus manoevered into becoming the
war party, and it was through their
efforts that the intrigues for sepa-
rate peace with Germany were smoth-
L
cred
The army has followed the liberal
leaders in this cause of dc rocracy
At the time of the Sturmer incident
when the conspiracy of the two autoc-
racies was on the verge of success
it is stated on unquestionable aulh.r-
ity that an ultimatum went from tie
army to Petrograd demanding that
the Duma be recognized forthwith as
the spokesman of the Russian people.
The, mandate could not be disregardeG.
StumpesnWas compelled to retire and
the plot for ae1separatef peace was
stifled. .s&s
In the mean time Russian liberia
lism has gained steadily in strength
and purpose. unlike all previous
movements against Russian depotism,
it is in a position 40 appeal to the
sympathy : and patriotism. Of the army = ~,
and the army is in a position to say,
the last word.
For months the censorship in Rus
STA has been so strict that comprc-,
hensive information as to actual con-
ditions has been impossible to obtain,
but all the fragments Of news have in
dicated that one Of the greatest demo-
cratic revolutions in all history was
actually under way. The Russian
people are engaged in two wars, one
against Germany and one for their
own liberation. Autocracy has made
the isues inseperable.
In everys democratic country there
will be the fervent hope that the
movement is so we'll organized this
time and that all the other circum-
stances are so favorable that defeat
impossible The Importance to man
kind in general Of free Russia is
beyond estimate.
And what must be the feeling OF
Germany's autocrats when they read
the handwriting on the wall?