The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-05-25
THE RUSSIAN
QUERY

against The rule or the many by the
few. e., kaiserism, is worrying
about Russia. If the Russian bear
lies down, they say, all will be doubt
full again and the war may last many
years. II Russia is thrown into civil
war, then likewise the case will be
bad, for Germany may slip into Rus
sia's store houses of the south and
get food to last for years. If Russia
makes a separate peace, then Ger
many can go back to warning with
the allies and get supplies from Rus
sia. II this happens, it is pointed
out, Japan may think better of en-
tente relations too, and join Russia
In neutrality.
At every crisis in the worlds his
tory there is room for doubt. But
never has the best venue of ad-
vancement, SO far as men know, been
neglected by the certain trend Of
civilization. AS men believe the cause
Of liberty may be lost, consider that
they will fight SO much the harder.
On the whole, freedom will scarcely
lose by Russia's failing to do her
part.
There are nearly 200, 0OO, 900 souls
in Russia. Yet within 100 years they
have risen from the dead level Of
serfdom. The years have been bloody,
but the work of freedom gained all
the while, until in 1905 a great up
rising resulted in the duma, a repre-
sentative body drawn from the peo-
pie themselves. The first two dumas
each lasted a few weeks. The car
dismissed them. It seemed that all
had gone for pothing. AS late as
several years before the present war
a Russian statesman, devoted to the
cause of self-government, was of the
opinion that the duma had best die
with honor rather than drag out a
useless existence. The fourth duma
was sitting when war was declared
on Germany, and it has now seen the
actual day Of freedom come.
From the third and fourth dumas
come men ready to manage state
affairs for the hugest republic on the
hemisphere. While they were strug-
Cling along under the cars frowns,
seemingly getting nowhere, they
were being trained for today. Prince
Lvoff, Milyukoff, Rodzianka, Keren-
sky are all Of those hopeless days.
In the last revolution the czar was
arrested and his bureaucrats thrown
out of power, and yet the Russian
people need make no change in their
civil life. While the whole spirit
of the government was reversed, its
details remain practically the same,
for already the Russian people hand
led their community affairs by repre-
sentatives bodies of peasants and
merchants with little interference
from oficialdom. These legislative
bodies are called zemstvos, and they
resemble the American state legisla-
true, only there are many more of
them. Prince Lvoff, the new premier,
was head of the Union of Zemstvos,
and the new regime fitted nicely
down yer that great organized net
work of councils. Russia had reach
ed a point of readiness before at
tempting to govern herself. That is
the Slav way-suffer long, but pre-
pare to make a better day certain.
For a time the new provisional
government went well. Then some {
German socialist influences stirred up 8
Factions demanded peace. !
Others demanded victory. The new !
declared that Russia would t
continue the val and still declare it. '
Radicals gained control of the new
representative body, the soldiers and
council. The duma has !
lone little apparently but strive to
smooth out things. Big men have
yost their positions and new names e
,ome up daily into prominence. 1t t
.ooks like a horrible turmoil, but h
t really isn't. 1t is just the scuf- =
ling at the edge of the multitude, q
which as a whole is progressing in J
he right direction. 4
No matter how much double-speed- :
ng and reversings we are to e in ]
Russian administrations no one who
las an idea of the long and bloody u
100 years past can doubt but the {
treat Slav nation will maintain popu- t
ar sovereignty and produce leaders !,
# heroic temper to keep up the good u
light in Europe. The present leaders t
ave recently announced the govern :,
nent's policy as in accord with the
lilies. Russia a not remain in n
lifferent to the fate of Belgium, Ser
ia and Rumania, nor forget its
luties toward them" says Prince
4voff. r
M. Tereschtenko, in his statement Il
couts the idea of a separate peace. 81
II note with deep satisfaction" he +
ontinues, that in our free Russia, N
espite our Emergencies of view,
here is no party, no single organi- O
such as existed in reactionary (
.ussia, capable of carrying on pro- a.
in favor of a separate b
.ace.' a.
They admit the existence, however, o.
[ some secret treaties, the publica-
on of which would turn their allies y
them. The power of the pros
government ito handle such
'eaties on it's own responsibility y.
lows stability and confidence of the
,ople. The Russian armies have b.
zen ordered to press their cam y,
ligns with vigor. American credit
Is been granted to Russia and
merican ENJOYS and engineers are
ing there to help. ID,
Freedom is pretty well safeguard d.
In Russia, and the peoples lead l.,
! are for crushing Prussianism.
-H- di
HAT "A BOOSTER rs l..