The Washington herald., 1918-02-05


country could do worse than recognize
the Bolshevik government.
In fact, he indicates that such a
recognition may be necessary if we
are to benefit by Russia's presence in
the world at this time.
The statement may surprise some
Of those who have been trying to
forget Russia, and who have been
looking with some scorn upon the
Bolshevist leaders. The truth appears
to be from this rather unexpected
statement of Col. Thompson's that
the Bolshevik cause is attaining pre-
cisely the very prominent position 1t
was believed, by some of the Russian
students. it would attain when Ker-
ensky became persona non grata to
the rank and file.
The Bolshevik leaders have planned
from the start to bring the allied
nations to recognize them. This aim
has been attained in fact, if not in
name-and greater recognition will be
apparent as time goes on.
But no one yet appears to quite un-
derstand this wayward movement in
government. Each ruler who thinks
that he has it correctly, analyZed finds
something new. some day or other, TO
surprise him. The condition, however.
should not discourage US. Some OF
the Russian leaders themselves, yes,
some of the Bolshevik leaders, find
something new. occasionally. to sur
prise them--and sudden deposition
provides them with abundant time
then to try to figure out how it hap
pcned.
The one prediction which can be
made, as to the future of the Boil
shevik movement, is that there will
be no stable satisfactory government
in Russia until the people have learn
ed how TO bring about a trustworthy
ma ajority rule, and have learned how to
abide by it.
All the time we are worrying about
Russia, however. we should be con-
graduating ourselves that no matter
how far away from us the Bolshevik
movement may grow. as it surges for
ward or recedes to the background, it
will never get near enough to Ger
man militarism to become a menace
to democracy.
Bolshevikism is not militarism, hence
cannot be subservient to pan-German-
ism.
George Creel says something about
every part of the machinery that CO.
ordinates the forces Of America for
victory" What many members or
Congress would like to know is where
this machinery is. There has not
been such machinery observed by the
several investigating committees now
busy on the Hill, and it is a fact
that not even the most sanguine men,
bers of Congress, who intend to op-
pose all efforts to create a war cabi-
net. will admit that our forces are
effectively co-ordinated. Moreover, the
President and the Secretary of War.
by their constant efforts to make new
bodies to fulfill new purposes, admit
that coordination has not yet been
arrived at in our government.
There is no politics in the war, yet
it is observed that when efforts are
made to better our system of con-
Quoting the war. the party signal goes
out. the party whip is cracked, and
the party leaders are told to rally the
men to the cause in the name of the
dominant party. All of which, we
wot, Is to be seen by the people of
the nation and cannot successfully be
camoufiaged.
But through all the trials and tribu-
lations there is a bright glow in the
eastern sky. The ways of democracy
may be difficult to understand some
times. and the road to eventual peace
may seem beset with many barriers,
but the ways of autocracy are infinite
ly more difficult. and are beset with
an infinitely greater number of bar
riers. Just as surely as the glow in
the east is becoming more and more
visible, so does it mean that our VIC
tory grows more and more certain.
HAS Congress part in this war;"
inquiries member of one OF the two
august bodies.F
Well, rather, we should say. Con-
gress declared. war. in the first place.
Congress appropriated the money to
wage 1t, Congress passed tile conscrip-
tion act. Congress. passed the national
defense act, Congress appropriated
more money, Congress passed the food
control legislation, Congress passed
the. food production legislation. Con-
gress authorized the mammoth bond
issues. Congress passed tho espionage
act, Congress passed the trading.with-
the-enemy act. Congress- appropriated
more money. Congress- passed the var