Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-13

secretary bl inc war tRnfilitlet or the
Union League club uf Chicago
We are in this war with Germany
because il is war for freedom more
truly than ever before was a war
fought for the liberty of,man. In times
past, il is true, men have fought for
freedom from oppreSSorS. Sometimes
they have Won and sometimes they
have lost. But always there has been
Il place i'm this big world where those
who had losi in the struggle at home
might 20 and find country whore
they might enjoy HE liberty they
loved
Now all IS different If'the forces
which are fighting for freedom III this
war are defeatet, there will be no
place In the whole world to which they
may 20 to tlnd refuge from Prus-
sian domination Every land under
the sun will be directly. or indirectly
nnder control Of the victor: and II
the victor Is autocracy. freedom per-
isbes.
The land where freedom is most I'M
mlnently menaced by the legions II
prussan autocracy, ut this moment,
IL 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 cottinue to fight for
II until Russia learns what freedom
means, and Is again able to fight. If
we do not, freedom will die in Russia
Prussian autocracy will rule and ex.
plot the country for It's own benefit:
and the very forces which overthrew
the ear will be turned against the
freedom not only Of themselves, but Of
other lands.
In wars gone by, when the forces
If 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 ear and
the kaiser, leaders of autocracy were
locked in n death graphic, Russia still
had our sympathy because she was
fighting on the side of those who were
seeking to Safeguard the world from
Prussian militaris,s.
When The ear was depoSed over
night American feelings were mixed.
There was Joy at the downfall of M
old and sometimes cruel Autocracy,
but there was fear that Russia would
become too dieorganiZed to fight fur.
thcr. coupled with the thought that per
haps the revolution had come too soon
to be effective.
Then followed the brief regime Of
KcrenSky. when ii began 10 look rs
though freedom in Russia might he IN
organized freedom, prepared to fight
for us rights. and all America hailed
th' Russian revolution as Il blessing,
II had become absolutely correct 10
. say that the war was Il war of dpmoc'
racv against antocracy. No pro-Ger.
man could longer point to the ear,
whenever an argument arose,
Finally camc The holshnvlki rcvolu.
ton in which kcrcnsl,v was over.
thrown Russian industry and Rus.
sian society were disorganiAcd, AND
Russian armies ceased 10 fight. The
kaiscr's armies pressed on unoppoEed
took what they desired in spite of Il
signed peace, and Russia appeared to
be- about to pass completely under con.
troll OF Germany. America stood
ayhast at The prank freedom had
played and American opinion turned
largely against Russia, but thinking
men refused Ia give UP nope. Rus.
si0 was and stlll Is incapable of offer
Ing resistance, but Russia Is not re-
signed to autocracy. It devolves upon
others to fight for the freedom Rus.
sla must have.
The experience Of other nations has
been that men who loved freedom
were willing 10 fight for II, and to die
for IL II necessary. The Russian ut
Vtutle VI NoN N'hi'thihk
new in the world and is hard to I'm.
derstand. The bolsheylki represent
ed the extreme idea of liberty. To
them freedom meant not the right Of
the ma jority 10 choose their form ot
government. but the right of the indi.
vidual to be free from all forms of
governmental restraint. They would
tear down the old order completely,
at one stroke. and set M the mil.
lenium. They would divide the land
the factories and the tools among the
workers, and have no masters hence.
forth.
Even in Russia, however, there were
disscnters. Some took up arms: and
the b0lshevikl. who fought the Ger.
mans not Mt al. fought their brothers
most fcroeiouslr. The result was an.
archy. lawlcssneSs, massacre the dis.
organization Of the railways and the
failure of the food supply. The mi.