The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-30
BY Charles Edwara RUSSELL.

t-4
BY Charles Edssar4 sFsussell.
Socialist and Author, Member Of UPS.
| Mission to Russia.
| (Crom an address before the National
Conference Of the AfpesicaH Alliance
flor Labor and Democracy at Minne-
apolis, Sept. 8. 1s1f.ls
/ am not sure that the people of Che
/ limited States really understand what
they confront. It seems TO- me that
too much of us are like men walking
in their sleep. that We arr traYerstng
the edge of a deadly abyss and do not
know It.
1t Ia not merely democracy, in the !.
I United States that Is at stake, ii ia not
merely that we face the overturnfng
Of every ! institution that has meant
much to us.
What we confront is the extinction
Of the democratic hope around the
world, because this conflict ia noe a
conflict between nations, it is NOT a
struggle between races, It Is not IAN
affair of commerce, it IL, not for the
sake OF territory 1t is no such stras-
gle as has previously convulsed Ru-
rope.
This is the last great final contest
for life or death between two ideas
that have been in conflict ever since
man began to emerge from the junkle
and began first to chrish the fiopd in
his heart that he might be free F1bm
that moment to this there has, NEVER
ceased to be a struggle between thDse
opposing principles. ,
Gradually the principle Dof demo
cratic rule has pushed back the pin
cipie of antOcratic rule, gradually 1he
idea Of self-governing man has driven
back the opposing idea Of man ruled
fbs sinheritea right 1893
! Inch by inch, year by year gcndra-
ton after generation. those that have
believed in government by theapc6ple
have won. won. won. and won against
those that believed in government. by
inherited right. At last. thetpowet OF
autocracy. the remaining bulwarS Of
the belief in government BY inhpri-
lance. driven to its last trench, makes
its last desperate stand, and SUMMONS
all of its strength for the attack.
Ii it should win, if the principle Of
government by inheritance should be
triumphant in this struggle. that
principle becomes nailed and COM
pleted and fastened upon the balance
Of the world from henceforth, and all
that has been won for sdemoc Islcy
every advantage. every liberty that
has been won by such an infinite
struggle and sacrifice all these cen
turies-all is lost. We go back. then.
to the beginning of the fight. Every
hero of the long struggle is to besob-
liberated. The world is no longer to
admire Arnold Winkelreid on Nathan
Hale. We are no longer to celebrate
Valley Forge or Saratoga. Every
! victory that has been won is now
:. turned to defeat. if Germany wins In
| this war. But that is not all. that ia
only the beginning, for, under whatso-
ever form of government, the world Is
ruled by ideas always. dominant ideas.
The idea of democracy has gained
$ one half of the world The ideh of
: autocracy rules the rest. Between
n these ideas there is an irrepressible
. conflict Men talk about peace.
There can be no peace in this world
until that question is settled
y II the representatives Of the warrins
8 powers could he brought together this
: day and make some kind OF a treaty to
lay down their arms, that would not
be peace: II would he nothing but an
}. armed truce, because the struggle
: must go on. it must go on---nothin,,
p can stop i; until 1t is determined
e. whether this world is to be free 1or
h slave.
G II is just as impossible that this
:: world should continne to be half dem
y ocratic and half autocratic .as it was
= that this country should continue TO b.,
half free and half slave. Just. as
!, truly as Lincoln hit that truth, SO
: accurate is it today to say that. be-
:, tween these opposing ideas there can
a never be anything but war always
+ war, and always war. by whatsoever
p name YOU call it--alWays war until one
. or the other is triumphant.
]