The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-07-12

I
Union League Club Of Chicago.
We are in this war with Germany
because 1t is war for freedom more
| truly than ever before was a war
fought for the liberty of man. In times
past, 1t Is true. men have fought for
freedom from oppressors. Sometimes
they have won and sometimes they
have lost But always there has been
place in this big world where those
who had lost in the struggle at home
might 60 and find a country where
they might enjoy the liberty they
loved.
Now all is different. If the forces
which are fighting for freedom in this
war are defeated, there will be no
place in the whole world to which they
may go to find a refuge from Prus-
sian domination. Every land under
the sun will be directly or indirectly
under control Of the victor; and IL
the victor is autocracy, freedom per-
fishes.
The land where freedom is most Inn
minently menaced by the legions OF
Prussian autocracy, at this moment,
Is the land where unwonted freedom
temporarily has run riot and has lost
the power to fight for itself-Russia.
We are fighting for the freedom Of
Russia, and must continue to fight for
1t until Russia learns what freedom
means, and is again able to fight. If
we do not, freedom will die Id Russia
Prussian autocracy will rule and ex-
plot the country for its own benefit;
and the very forces which overthrow
the car will be turned against the
freedom not only Of themselves, but Of
other lands.
In years gone by, when the forces
Of revolution were showing themselves
here and there in Russia, they had the
sympathy Of America in spite of the
methods of terrorism of which we
did not approve. When the car and
the kaiser, leaders of autocracy, were,
locked in a death grapple, Russia still
had our sympathy, because she was
fighting on the side of those who were
seeking to safeguard the world from
Prussian militarism:
When the car was deposed over
night American feelings were mixed.
There was joy at the downfall of an
old, and sometimes cruel autocracy,
but there was fear that Russia would
become too disorganized to fight fur
Their, coupled with the thought that per-
haps the revolution had come too soon
to be effective.
Then followed the brief regime OF
Ky asskx. when i began to look as
4 organized freedlsn, prepared 20 1fgfft
, for its rights, and all America hailed
. the Russian revolution as blessing.
IT had become absolutely correct to
say that the war was war of democ,
racy against autocracy. No pro-Ger-
man could longer point to the czar,
whenever an argument arose.
Finally came the bolshevik revolu-
: tiOn, in which Kerensky was over
thrown. Russian industry and Rus
sian society were disorganized, and
Russian armies ceased to fight. The
kaiser's armies pressed on unopposed,
took what they desired in spite of a
signed peace, and Russia appeared to
be about to pass completely under con-
troll of Germany. America stood
aghast at the prank freedom had
played, and American opinion turned
largely against Russia, but thinking
4 men refused to give up hope. Rus
q STA was and still Is incapable OF offer
5 ing resistance, but Russia is not re-
e signed to autocracy. 1t devolves upon
: Others to fight for the freedom Rus
t sia must have.
The experience Of other nations has
r been that men who loved freedom
: were willing to fight for it, and to die
: for It II necessary. The Russian at
: titude Of nonresistance was something
: new in the world, and is hard to un
tierstand. The bolsheviki represent
!, ed the extreme Idea of liberty. IL
5 them freedom meant not the right Of
Y the majority to choose their form o.
Y government, but the right Of the indi
vidual to be free from all forms o.
r governmental restraint. They would
4 tear down the old order completely
t at one stroke, and set up the mil
e lenium. They would divide the land
$ the factories and the tools among IN
: workers, and have no masters hence
t forth.
: Even in Russia, however, there wer'
dissenters. Some took up arms; ant
the bolsheviki, who fought the Ger
mans not at all, foughN their brother
Q most ferociously. The result was an
! archy, lawlessness, massacre, the dis
T Organization Of the railways and tn
failure Of the food supply. The mil
lenium refused to come at the mer
decree Of the bolshevikl. 1t was show
that there must be organization AM
government of some sort.
Russia will not longer fight side b,
side with her former allies. SO In
eiduous has been the German propa
ganda that, in many instances, Russial
hatred Of the allies seems to be deer
er than hatred Of Germany.
Therefore the United States canno
render direct aid to the struggling pee
pie Of Russia. She cannot send then
armies and supplies, for they have re
. fr,rod 70 do hnttIn for themselves N