The Washington herald., 1917-04-24
viii Kaiser FoZZow Gar
Into TwiZight of Gods2
Russian Revolution Cements Entente Battle Front
Into Bulwark of Democracy and Makes Com
plete American Accord with Cause

The Russian revolution, as 1t is viewed
from London, has a supreme significance
for the United States and her part in the
war. 1t lies in the fact that with the
overthrow OF the ancient autocracy
which drove millions of refugees to the
sanctuary of our shores, the last barrier
to a complete American accord with the
entente cause Is removed. In other
words, the American who accepted all the
allies save Russia because her chronic
tyranny, may now welcome the Slavic
domain as part and parcel Of democracy.
The historic events OF the past week
have loosed liberalism in one of the larg-
est stronghohs of the reactionary," "
writes Isaac F. Marcosson, in Every
body's magazine
AT the time write this dispatch. on
the eve Of my departure for Petrograd,
the revolution Is not sufficiently visual
lied here in London to warrant definite
or sweeping prophecy. People are quick
to make hasty comparison with the
French revoluuon-yet chaos followed
that epochal event It Is appreciated that
Russia is still plastic. But the right
hands seem to be shaping its new des-
tiny. Giants are not remade overnight.
Yet, in the light Of known events and
after conversations with high British Of
fcials and eminent Russians, some reas-
onably safe deductions may be made.
Foremost among them is the belief,
widely held and expressed in England.
that one of the most serious dangers to
allied success, the cancer OF German In
trigue at the Russian court, with all its
menacing possibilities, is removed by an
almost bloodless operation.
I'm the second place, the old bureau
cracy, which throttled liberty and made
pears to be blotted out. Russia to quote
Mr. Asquith, is at last constituttonally
articulate.' Life, liberty, the pursuit Of
happiness, and I might also add liveli-
hood, have suddenly become part Of the
Russian creed.
"Of equal importance, so far as the
conduct OF the war is concerned, Is the
effect of the vast change upon the ethics
of the great struggle. 1t makes the en-
tente battle front one unbroken bulwark
of democracy, and 1t puts the odium and
the responsibility of autocracy squarely
and solely up to the central powers. Here
is the clearly defined issue. Not that
there was any lack of issue before the
revolution, but It crystallizes the whole
lineup so that the average American
may see 1t at a glance and understand.
This is one reason why the revolution
has made such a tremendous impression
In England. Before II happened more
than one Briton SHE'D at manifestinF any
delight over declaring himself an ally of
Russia. Like most of his brothers in
many neutral lands, he felt that Russia
was a Joker in the great game being
played for world freedom. Now that the
shackles have fallen, the Slav mammoth
becomes a vital factor In a war of liberia
ton. He incarnates liberation itself. The
one jarring note in the whole allied pro-
test against Teutonic aggression is now
silent.
These. then, are the outstanding facts
one week after the curtain was lifted
from the fateful Russian silence. That
silence was like the last dark hour before
dawn. Not even the outbreak of the war
has so startled Europe, The war was
expected: the revolution was a thunder
clap. Everywhere 1t is acclaimed.
ct can give no more striking evidence
of the way the news Is received than to
quote one of the most eminent Of British
statesmen, who said IL the war had only
produced the Russian revolution 1t would
have been worth all it cost in blood and
treasure.
Lloyd George expressed the general
allied Wv when he said: Z believe that