New-York tribune., 1918-01-18

have taken the ground that the educated
classes and the so-callcd bourgeois, who arc
described by them as representing the arch
enemy pital sm-shall have no part in the
government of the country. The labor com
mittecs which for the moment control af-
fairs in Petrograd, and who are trying to
control the country, have shown their under
standing of national honor and Of national
interests by announcing their intention to re-
pudiate the national debt. They have at the
same time taken possession of bank deposits
and Of the contents of the shops Of the me-
tropols.
Their standard of action is that of crazy
children who have broken into "a cancy shop.
They believe that it is going to be possible
to carry the industries Of Russia, upon
which industries depends of course, the live
hhood Of the workers, without the of or
ganzed capital. They believe that it is
going to be possible to maintain the inde
pendencc of the nation after operations
which mean the pratical appropriation of re
sources that have been loaned 70 Russia by
France, England and the United States. The
actions of the labor unions in Petrograd show
labor at its worst. SO far no leader has APP
pcared with wisdom and patriotism like
that of Mr.. Gompcrs to rescue these children
from their wicked folly.
British Workmen in the SOS
may recall in this connection the wise and
patrlotlc action taken by certain English
working folk in the years between 1876.
The cotton operators in Manchester, Oldham
and other manufacturing centres were after
the beginning of 1862, starving because for
want of cotton the mills had closed. Leaders
like Palmerston, Russell and John Delane, Of
1.-The London Times" and other friends of
Louis Napoleon and Of the cause of the
to al
Lancashire that their influence must be used
to induce the government to intervene in the
American war and to secure the independence
of the Confederacy. In this way, said "The
Times" and only in this way, can it be pos
sible to secure a speedy peace and to bring
again to the factories of England the sup
plies Of cotton which were required to save
the working folk from starvation
These men of Lancashire, putting to one
side such specious suggestions, accepted the
leadership of John Bright, Richard Golden
and the Duke of Argyll They refused to give
the weight of their votes and influence in
behalf of cause which stood for human
slavery. They held, with John Bright, that
the maintenance of the American Republic
was essential for the interests of representa-
tive government, of government for the peo-
pie, not only in America. but in England and
throughout the world. The American Minis
tei, MI. f1udIlS, asked JOnn Brlgnt what could
be done to help these starving operators and
Bright suggested that America might send
food. Committees were formed in New York
and IN Boston, including in their membership
list such men as John NJ. Forbes, Moses H.
Grnnell. William T. Dodge, A. T. Stewart
George +. Putnam and Others SUPPLIES OF
food were purchased and were forwarded in
three vessels to Liverpool, consigned to g.
committee that Bright had organized for the
purpose. This sympathetic gift constituted
the recognition from America of the sturdy
patriotism Of the workingmen of England
The lesson is one that can we'll be taken to
heart by working folk to-day throughout the
world. Irrespective of their duty as cit-
zens, their livelihood is bound up with the
securing OF peace that shall be an assured
peace. Their interests are definitely opposed
to militarism, which means the continuation
of the burdens of standing armies and the
certain renewal of war in the near future.
If the working people on both sides of the
Atlantic will see clearly and will act with
wisdom and patriotism, the doom of miltar
ism is assured and the world will be made
safe for democracy