Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-22
Russia and Mexico

The peril if any, to the entente does not lie
Immediately in the radical change of government
in Russia for the new government is more intent
upon than the old The who compose
the government are all bitter enemies of Germany
and We're the foremost proponents of the One Of
their grievances against the old government that
the war was not prosecuted with sufficient vgor,
skill and success Probably but for the successes
last fall and winter of the Teutons against the Rus
sian and Rumanan armies there would have been
no revolution-at this time.
Whatever of peril there may be lies in the
democracy Is Russia prepared for it? VIII not there
revolution within revolution to the strength
Of Russia until shall cease to be factor in the
war? That will depend partly upon the character of
leadership of the new government and partly
upon the attitude of various sections of the vast
empire from the greater part of which word has
come.
The superficial view may be taken that on &C
count of the character of the population Russia
its nliteracy its unfamiliarity with even rudi-
mentary self government a democracy cannot be
quickly established there. Many of have believed,
and still believe, that within a generation can
q successful constitutional government be set up
in Mexico Some of US have advanced the ignorance
Of the people OF Mexico and their total unfamilarty
with any form Of self government as a reason why
a democracy is impossible
But that is not the real reason as to Mexico and
it is not the real reason any country Education
and literacy essential to self or repre-
sentative government. be sensible and
patriotic without having learned read Constitu-
tonal governments have suddenly risen on the ruin
of centuries-old tyrannies.
The trouble in Mexico has not been the ignor-
ance of the people but the character the people
and more particularly the character of their leaders
In more than hundred years few great leaders have
arisen in Mexico In fifty years there only
one overshadOwing character and he a dem
ocrat. Daz essentially autocrat There is no
group of men who could head Mexican
democracy if every citizen intelligent
and the sentiment of patriotism Were as low as it
has always been.
The French revolution was founded upon a tyran-
more abusive of the rights of the people than
late government of Russia. Iliteracy in France at
that period profound. But the revolution was
headed by of ability and patriotism. We believe
that whatever they may have afterward become
even Marat and Robespierre were patriots in 1891.
Aarat probably. patriot the time of his as
sassnation. Robespierre was crazed by power first
thrust upon him and later, seized by him
In this period France able to withstand
powerful European combination monarchial govern
ment fighting apparently against the spread of re-
against foreign foes though by internal troubles.
But there little dssension in that period in
republican France. Those who might have success
fully led counter-revolution emigres France
was never more solid. That it afterward succumbeG
to the genius of Napoleon has nothing to do with
the discussion in hand.
There are leaders in Russia That country has
always abdunded in able and eminent statesmen.
Most of them have been loyal and loyalty is form
Of patriotism Loyalty order has prevailed there
rather than loyalty to the people If this loyalty
order which has passed be easily transferred
to the people who have succeeded the order de-
mocracy be easily founded in Russia. Russia will
then be ready for it and its part the war can be
maintained without the missing of stroke
But if the old loyalty to order survives it will
have expression to order outside of Russia and
Germany and Austria will receive it as the most
convenient surviving representatives of that order