Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1918-07-04

We are In this war with Germany
because 1t is war for freedom more
truly than ever before was a wal
fought for the liberty of man. In time:
past. it is true, men have fought fol-
freedom from oppressors. Sometimes
they have won and sometimes they
have lost. But always there has been
place In this big world where those
who had lost in the struggle at home
might go and find q country where
they might enjoy the liberty they
loved.
Now all is different. If the forces
which are fighting for freedom in this
war are defeated, there will be no
place in the whole world to which they
may go to find a refuge from Prus-
sian domination. Every land under
the sun will be directly or indirectly
under control of the victor; and II
the victor is autocracy, freedom per-
lshes.
The land where freedom is most i'm
minently menaced by the legions of
Prussian autocracy, at this moment,
is 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 fight for
It 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 its own benefit;
and the very forces which overthrow
the car will be turned against the
freedom not only of themselves, but Of
other lands.
In years gone by, when the forces
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 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 miutarism.
When the car 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 |
Their, coupled with the thought that per-
haps the revolution had come too soon
to be effective.
Then followed the brief regime of
Kerensky, when it began to look as
though freedom in Russia might be an
freedom, prepared to fight
for its 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-
nan could longer point to the car,
whenever an argument arose.
Finally came the bolsheviki revolu.
ion, in which Kerensky was over
brown. Russian industry and Rus
sian society were disorganized, and
Russian armies ceased to fight. The
laiser's armies pressed on unopposed,
ook what they desired In spite Of
igned peace, and Russia appeared to
'e about to pass completely under con-
rol of Germany. America stood
ghast at the prank freedom had
'layed, and American opinion turned
argely against Russia, but thinking 6
1en refused to give up hope. Rus I
Ia was and still is incapable of offer
ng resistance, but Russia is not re-
lgned to autocracy. 1t devolves upon Y
Tiers to fight for the freedom Rus
10 must have.
The experience Of other nations has
cen that men who loved freedom
ere willing to fight for 1t, and to die
Or 1t IL necessary. The Russian at
tude Of nonresistance was something
ew in the world, and Is hard to un.
erstand. The bolsheviki represent a
I the extreme idea of liberty. To h
lem freedom meant not the right Of
le majority to choose their form Of
but the right Of the indi- II
dual to be free from all forms Of q
restraint. They would p
ar down the old order completely, I
one stroke, and set up the mill
MUM. They would divide the land, r
e factories and the tools among the 3
orkers, and have no masters hence
nth.
Even In Russia, however, there were
ssenters. Some took up arms; and
. bolsheviki, who fought the Ger
ans not at all, fought their brothers
ost ferociously. The result was an
chy, lawlessness. massacre, the dis h,
ganixation Of the railways and the :,
lure Of the food supply. The mill %
alum refused to come at the mere L,
cree Of the bolsheviki. It was shown fe
at there must be organization and :,
vernment Of some sort. y
Russia win not longer fight side By 81
le with her former allies. So IN to
luous has been the German props n,
nda that, In many instances, Russian "
tired Of the allies seems to be deep
than hatred Of Germany. 81
Therefore the United States eannet
lder direct aid to the struggling peo-
] Of Russia. She cannot send them ~ IT,
mics and supplies, for they have re-
led to do battle for themselves. To 81