The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-10-21
Czecho- Sloyakia Debut.

Czecho- Sloyakia begins its formal ma
tional existence with a declaration to.
day which win be memorable in history
The remuneration of all allegiance to the
Hapsburg monarchy and the assumption
of the functions of self-government which
President Masaryk and other members
Of the Czecho-Slovak government have
signed, is not so sententious, not so
grandiloquent or so universal in its tone
and scope rs the American Declaration of
Independence Of l776, but it is probably
as well adapted TO its purpose, and its
effect on the politics of central Europe
win be great and far-reaching, The
struggles and sufferings of the Slavic
peoples of what is now northern Austria
and Hungary are reviewed most elo-
quently. The historic right of the Czechs
to independence is proved. The absolute
irreconcilability of the democratic aspira-
tions of the Czeehish and Slovak people
with Austrian monarchical rule-a rule
whose very essence and motive are de-
structive of the principle of national
self determination broadly and con
clusively stated. And finally, this plat
form of future democratic organization
is succinctly laid down:
"The Czeeho- Slovak state shall be a
republic. In constant endeavor for prog
ress it viii guarantee complete freedom
of conscience, religion mad science, litera-
ture and art, speech, the press and the
right Of ASSEMBLY, and petition. The
churches shall be separated from the
state. Our democracy shall rest on uni
versal suffrage women shall be placed
on an equal footing with men, political
ly, socially and culturally. The rights Of
the minority shall be safeguarded by
proportional representation; national mi
norities shall enjoy equal rights. The
government shall be parliamentary in
form and shall recognize the principles
Of initiative and referendum The stand
ing army will be replaced by militia.
1.-THE Czecho-Slo nation will carry
out far-reaching social and economic re-
forms; the large estates will be redeemed
for home colonization; patents of nobil-
ity viii be abolished
Here is a charter of popular liberties
and a proclamation of national endeavor
which, if confirmed by time and oppor
tunity, win in several respects go well
beyond our own Declaration. Can the Bo-
hemian and Moravian people, and the
other racial remnants included in their
proposed domain, sustain the demand of
future constructive and revolutionary
craftsmanship which they lay thus upon
themselves? Only time can answer that
question. But the new nation is richly
entitled to the chance TO prove what it
can do Nothing is lacking in the spirit
and initiative which it has shown. 1t
has made its own way thus far, Without
arms in its hands at home, it has estab-
lshed a free and wellordered army on
blazed the way for the redemption Of
foreign soil BY means Al this it has
Russia. Czecho- Slovakia has wrought
constructive wonders already. 1t should
receive the heartiest and most practical
support from all the entente allies, and
particularly from America, whose reyo-
lutionary example it is following, and
upon whose soil its national ideals have
been nurtured and its political founda
tions have been laid Boston Transcript.