Williston graphic., 1918-10-24

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
Prdssian militarism.
When the czar 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
ther. coupled with the thought that per-
hans the revolution had come too soon
to be effective.
Then followed the brief regime Of
Kerensky, when 1t began to look as
though freedom in Russia might be an
organized freedom, prepared to fight
for it's 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 bolsheviki revolu-
ton, in which Kerensky was over"
thrown. Russian industry and Rus
stan society were dis0rganized. and
Russian armies ceased to fight. The
kaiser's armies pressed on un0pposed.
took what they desired in spite OF
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
men refused to give up hope. Rus
sia was and still is incapable Of offer.
ing resistance, but Russia is not re.
signed to autocracy. It devolves upon
others to fight for the freedom Rus
sia must have.
The experience Of other nations has
been that men who loved freedom
were willing to fight for 1t, and to die
for Il IL necessary. The Russian at
titude Of nOnresistance was something
new in the world. and is hard to IN
derstand, The bOlsheviki represent
ed the extreme idea Of liberty. TO
them freedom meant not the right OF
the majority to choose their form OF
government, but the right Of the tndi.
vidual to be free from all forms OF
governmental restraint. They would
tear down the old order completely.
at one stroke, and set up 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
dissenters. Some took up arms; and
the bolsheviki, who fought the Ger
mans not at all, fought their brothers
most ferociously. The result was an
archy, lawlessness, massacre, the dis'
organization Of the railways and the
failure Of the food supply. The mill
lenium refused to come at the mere
decree Of the bolsheviki. It was shown
that there must be organization ana
Russia will not longer fight side By
side with her CORNER allies. So In
siduous has been the German propa.
ganda that, in many instances. Russian
hatred Of the allies seems to be deep
er than hatred of Germany.
Therefore the United States cannot
render direct aid to the struggling peo'
ple of Russia. She cannot send them
armies and supplies, for they have re-
fused to do battle for themselves. TO
fight for Russia she must fight on the
western front. She must do her share
-! toward humbling the kaiser, and fore
{, ing him to relinquish his grasp on the
! East. -.l3
That is why we cannot talk peace
with Germany as long as the. kaiser
has one single Russian provinces IN
j derahis heel.