The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-03-22
The Rise And Fall OF The Russian Republic
Or A Monument To National Humiliation

had done incalculable harm through
their public and secret agitations.
Subsequently he escaped.
Strikes, agrarian disorders, anti
government demonstrations at Kron-
stadt, Sebastopol and elsewhere. mu-
J TIMES in the fleets and among entire
. regiments at the front, together with
steps taken by Finland and se Tx.
raine to attain political independence,
| cast into uncertainty. during subse-
/ quent months, the question whether
the success of the revolution was Ger.
. tain. About mid-July Petrograd was
placed under Army control after street
/ fighting In which sixtysix persons
! we're killed and $50 wounded. German
agents were believed to have insti.
gated these disturbances. Tens Of
thousands Of German spies had been
able to invade Russia, and for period
the provisional government hesitated
to prosecute them and the Russian
fanatics who were their tools. for fear
of being accused of oppression and
tyranny.
With only one Socialist, Kerensky
the first Cabinet was too weak to sur.
viye, the peasants and the Workmens
and Soldiers Delegates demanding
stronger representation. A second
Ministry was formed, on May 10, with
six Socialists among its fifteen mem
bers, and military offensive was be-
gun in Galicia which steeled the hearts
of the Entente with renewed courage.
Begun on front extending about
eighteen miles. the advance was car
ried on vigorously at various points
on an S00-mile front from the Gulf of
Riga to Rumania. Brzezany and Hal
icz were captured.
The keynotes of the attitude of the
ruling faction of the new regime was
sounded in resolutions adopted by the
Workmen's and Soldiers Delegates
urging the democracies of all nations
to Influence their governments to
adopt peace formulae. This sugges-
tion created worldwide interest but.
while openly discussed in government
al circles. it met with no response
from leaders of Entente ministries
Meanwhile Petrograd had exposed
an attempt by Germany TO conclude a
separate peace. This offer. made
through Swiss channels. resulted in
the expulsion from Russia of Robert
Grimm. Il prominent Socialist inter
nationalist. Grimm was a Swiss citi
, zen. Austrian efforts 10 lure Russia
, into separate peace also were re.
buffed, the Workmen's and Soldiers
Delegates issuing a proclamation say
ing the nation favored only a general
, peace.
Although Lvoff had remained as
Premier of the second Cabinet Keren.
, sky, as Minister of War and Marine.
/ became the dominating power and to
him was accorded the credit of inaug.
, urating the military offensive which
the Entente dared to hope would de.
velop into a smashing blow against
the Central Powers. An attempt to
assassinate Kerensky at Polotsk on
July 20 only served to strengthen his
position with the workmen, peasants
and those soldiers who were loyal.
L., Il,
out among the Russian troops. Some
refused TO obey orders and retreated
as the Austro-Germans advanced A
military collapse had begun. The
provisional government issued proc
. lamation saying the nations fateful
hour was at hand and warning against
Army was kOwn to be honeycombed
with German spies.
Tarnapol, Brzezany, Halicz. Stanis-
lau and KOlomea were lost. The line
of retreat extended on front of 155
miles from the River Sereth to the
wooded Carpathians the Russians los
ing many prisoners and heavy guns,
together with great stores of supplies
and ammunition which the Entente
had furnished in anticipation of con
tinuance of the oifensi'e. The Rus
SLAMS surrendered all the ground, and
more, which had been won on their
advance.
In this emergency. Kerensky be-
came the Republics hope. This youth
full fgure-he is ga lawyer who
came out of his earlier obscurity first
by defending oppressed Jews, was
granted unlimited powers by the peas
ants and the soldiers and workmen.
He became virtually a dictator, with
his regime called the Government of
National Safety" His was the stu
pendous task of re-establishing order
at the front and within the govern
ment itself.