Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-03

TOR the last twelve years, since
the Russian Revolution of 1906,
every average American citizen
has known at least one Russian word,
the word "Cossacks." 1 have just
ended a speaking tour through the
United States, and after addressing
during the past five weeks, fifty
seven meetings in thirty-two states,
with an attendance of about $4,000,
l have learned that every average
American citizen knows now at least
another Russian word, the word
"Bolsheviki." The Cossacks led by
General Kaledine, are now fighting
the Bolsheviki who endanger the
very existence of the Russian Re-
public, and the purpose of this state
ment is to interpret for the American
public the real meaning and signifi-
cameo of these two factors in Rus
sian life.
l will begin with an explanation
about the Cossacks. People in this
country have been accustomed to
consider the Cossacks counter
revolutionary power. The ground
for this presumption lay in the fact
that the Cars government had used
the Cossacks extensively for suppress
sing revolutionary uprisings in Rus
sia for the last two, three decades.
1t must be said, as a matter of fact,
that the old government sent against
the revolutionists, not only the Cos
sacks, but all other units of the army
as well. The entire army, as long
as the Cars government was able to
control 1t, was used in Russia as a
counter-revolutiona force. The up
risings in part of the Russian fleet,
in 1906 and 1906, were suppressed
partially by the other part of the
fleet which had not Joined the revo-
luton, and partially by the artillery
at the fortresses of Kronstadt AMI
Sveaborg. The famous revolutionary
uprising at Moscow, in December,
1905, was suppressed by a few reg
iments of infantry which came down
from Petrograd.
On the other hand, there is a ver-
sion that the revolution in March,
1917, started in Petrograd after a
Cossack shot police officer who had
just before killed a student for try
ing to make a revolutionary speech.
And the Cossacks in Petrograd were
the first military unit to join the
revolution. About two weeks after
the revolution the first All-Russian
Cossack Congress met in Petrograd,
and it is very timely now to recall
the resolution unanimously adopted
at this Congress.
"The Congress of the Cossacks
Delegates of all Russia has faith in
the administrative genius of the
Russian people, which more than
once has manifested itself in the
darkest moments of our national
history. The Congress firmly be.
lieves that the Provisional Govern.
ment, pursuing a domestic policy
based on the consent of all the or
ganized democratic forces, and a for
eign policy in complete harmony
with the Allies, will be able to guide
Russia into the paths of liberty and
democracy. The Cossacks of al
Russia, inspired with deep demo
cratic spirit are ready to render al
their support to the Provisional Gov
ernment in its work of eradicatins
anarchy, preventing counter-revo.
luton, and safeguarding freedom oi
election to the Constituent Assembly
so that it can be q true expression
of the popular will. and thus be in.
strumental in making Russia a true
democracy"
While some people in this coun.
try are still inclined to consider the
Cossacks a counter-revolution
force, the Russian democracy, witt
the exception of the Bolsheviki
whose opinion on this point or any
other should not be taken too ser.
iously, think otherwise. The sAll.
Russian Council of Workingmen and
Soldiers Delegates received the dele.
cation from the Cossacks' Congress:
with exceptional kindness and gave
them seats among the presiding
officers.
All the Cossacks of Russia now fol
low General Kaledine, whose name
only recently became known in this
country. In Russia Kaledine's name
became we'll known during the wal
as the Commander of the Eighth
Army. General Kaledine acted then
against the Germans in the same
manner as he is now acting against
the Bolsheviki. He is always very
slow, taking his time to prepare 6
plan and the necessary measures fol
its accomplishment, but when he
strikes, it is almost always q mortal
blow. After hearing many things
about Kaledine from the Russian
officers who have fought under him
would say that Kaledine may bt
called the Russian Tank" Hi.
movements are slow but sure an6
reflective in reaching the objective.