The courier-index., 1918-07-05
Why We Fight
no. B
Becsuse Germany MESSAGES the
Freedom Of the World and Russia
Can no Lonaer Resist
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED
ecretary OF the War COMMITTEE OF ths

We are in this war with Germany
because II is war for freedom more
truly than ever before was a war
fought for the liberty Of man. In times
mast. il is true. men have fought for
freedom from oppressors. Sometimes
tbav have won and sometimes they
have lost. But always there has been
n Mace in this big world where those
! who had lost IN the struggle at home
might 20 and find country where
they might enjoy the liberty they
loved.
Now all Is different. IF the forces
which are fighting for freedom in TINS
war are defeated, there will be no
n,ace In the whole world TO which they
NAV go TO find refuge from Prus-
sian domination. Every land under
the sun will be directly or indirectly
under control Of the victor; and IL
| the Victor is aptocracy. freedom per-
ishes. :.
The land where freedom is most i'm.
mlnently menaced by the legions OF
prussian autocracy, at 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 continue TO fght TOT
II until Russia learns what freedom
means. and is again able to fight. TX
we do not, freedom will die In Russia
pr1,ssiap autocracy will rule and ex-
nloit the country for its own benent;
and the very forces which oyershfew
the car will be turned against the
freedom not only of themselves bur OF
0'I u y sdI zone s. sht1s The forces
~ revolution were showing themselves
here and there in Russia. they nau me
svmpatby of America in spite OF the
methods of terrorism of which we
did not approve. When the car ana
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
Prussian militarism.
When the car was deposed over
night American feelings were mixed.
There was 10y 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-
baps 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 nght
/ for its rights. and all America hailed
\ the Russian revolution as blessing.
II had become absolutely correct 10
| saw that the war was war OF democ-
racy against autocracy. No pro-Ger-
man could longer point TO the car,
| whenever an argument arose.
FINALLY came the bolsheviki revolu-
ton. in which Kerensky was over
thrown. Russian industry and Rus
/ sian society were disorganized, and
Russian armies ceased to fight. The
kaiser's armies pressed on unopposed.
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
STA was and still is incapable of offer
ing resistance. but Russia is not re
signed TO autocracy. II devolves upon
others 10 fight for the freedom Rus-
STA must have.
The experience Of other nations has
been that men who loved freedom
were willing 10 fight for 1t, and TO ole
for IL IL necessary. The Russian at
titude of nonresistance was something
new In the world. and is hard 10 un
derstand. The bolsheviki represent
ed the extreme idea Of liberty. IL
them freedom meant not the right o.
the majority 10 choose their form o.
government. but the right OF the indi
yidual to be free from all forms o
governmental restraint. They woul'
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 tn
workers, and have no masters hence
forth.
Even in Russia. however, there wer
dissenters. Some took up arms; an
the bolsheviki. who fought the Gel
mans not at all. fought their brother
most ferociously. The result was al
archy, lawlessness. massacre. the dis
organization of the railways and th
failure Of the food supply. The mi
lenium refused TO come At the mer
. decree Of the bolshev!ki. II was show
that there must be organization an
; government Of some sort.
I Russia viii not longer fght side b
side with her corner allies So II
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