Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-23
FAITH IN RUSSIA

TT WOULD be futile TO generalize too
= hastily regarding present conditions in
Russia. But beneath the turmoil and dis.
tress may be OWNED the STRINGS of noble
and tremendous forces. Those who have
been prompt to condemn the prostration
OF the young republic under the Teuton
heel may have cause to revise their views.
And II ever nation needed sympathy and
friendly understanding in its hour of trial
that nation is Russia today.
Ambassador Francs's remarkable mes
sage to the Russian people, issued from
vologda, where the American embassy is
now housed, is one Of the most appealing
utterances in the history Of diplomacy
The ambassador urges the Russian people
not to submit to the German peace treaty;
he begs them to lay aside internal differ
encos and unite in repeling the invaders.
He heartens them to believe that this can
be done, and that only in that way can a
lasting peace be- secured for Russia and
the world.
Ny Government" said Ambassador
FraAcis. still considers America an ally
Of the Russian people. who surely will not
reject the proffered assistance We will be
prompt to render to any government in
Russia that will offer a sincere and organ
izsd resistance to the German invasion.
1 shall not leave Russia until compelled
by force"
Mr.. Francis did we'll to express to the
Russian people the warm and fraternal
sympathy of the United States. We are
not fair'weather friends We care little
enough what party may come to the top
In that country IL only it represents the
Intelligent and liberal aspirations of Great
Russia herself. We have no concern in
\ what particular form the United States of
Russia may come to birth. Our part is to
assist our ally in every way possible to
.fres herself from the strangling and disin-
Z tegrating embrace of the Hun.
1t would be we'll for Americans to under
stand little moro clearly the peculiar
dlhiculty that besets Russian liberal lead
3 ers In their present struggle. Having la.
bored to discredit war as the devilment of
autocrats and capitalists having promised
the people peace If only czardom and all
\ It symbolized were overthrown, they now
ind the exhausted and war weary masses
apathetic toward this new war to which
4 they are urged. Hunger knows no master:
~$>s~~ " 'SonuO"h oioN ltopOllSS u
stimulus. The Bolshevk leaders feel in
honor bound to organize their new mill.
tary machinery on a purely voluntary
basis. And Russia has been through such
I bitter and Confusing turmoil that by now
y the peasant finds the issues dimmed and
K fogey. No one not the leaders themselves,
knows just what will happen. Trotsky
says he will he Minister of War. ''lf there
r. = war" The situation cannot be judged
BY precedents, for there are none.
But. as the President has said, there are
great voices in the Russian ether. We
hevo boundless hope for her ultimate re.
Goneration. we pray for the day when she
NO. b able to gather her shattered ranks
a taoethsr and oppose a united front to
. siajster trickery and dishonest propa.
v onnda. 1t may even be that her very
h1lp1sssness and her efforts to democratize
hRself win do more than anything else to
2 btlng about democratic upheaval in Ger
many. Only yesterday Prince Max of
Baden said that Germany was in great
I danger Of moral infection" from Russia.
Whatever happens. the United States will
4 not abcndon the youngest republic in the
world. and Ambassador Francis did fine
Y ooryice In saying so to tie Russian people.