The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-06-28

We are in this war with Germany
because it is war for freedom more
fought for the liberty of man. In times
past, it is true, men have fought for
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 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 90 to find a 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 autocracy, freedom per-
ishes.
The land where freedom is most inn
-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 light Tor
II until Russia learns what freedom
means, and is again able to fight. Ii
we do not, freedom will die in Russia;
Prussian autocracy will rule and eS-
plot the country for it's own benent;
and the very forces which overthrow
the ear 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 ana
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 militarism.
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 Wouic
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
organized freedom, prepared to light
for its rights, and all America hailed
the Russian revolution as a 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 revoiu-
ton, in which Kerensky was over
thrown. Russian industry and RUS
sian society were dlsOrganized, 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 autocraey. 1t devolves upon
others to fight for the freedom Rus
STA must have.
The experience Of other nations has
been that men who loved freedom
were willing to fight for it, and to die
for IL If necessary. The Russian at
titude Of nonresistance was something
new in the world, and is hard to I'M
derstand. The boishevik represent