Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-06
FORECASTS GONE 7

N'S 49, ~" "a " VIM wv hVtS at lIHS y
other. had occasion to ask to be delivered from beins
confronted by our own words. In connection with m.ht
things 1t Ia reasonably safe to predict and interpret, be.
cause there is small chance that there will be opportu.
nifty for verification or disproof during our own times
and by the tim. the occasion does arise our utteraneel
will alike be forgotten.
In the main it has been fairly safe to make predic-
tons with reference to development. affecting the policy
and fate OF nations, for as a rule great bodies move sloA.
ly, and the comments which we mag make on the tenden.
cies Of great national movements are apt to be 80 far in
advance Of the realization that the situation presents lit
tie likelihood Of embarrassment even il the predictions
do go wrong!
But things have been wonderfully speeded up in
these later days. Four or five years ago, for instance,
very many, perhaps the majority Of liz, felt quite sure
that there would never be another great war, and we
were not at all backward about saying 80. The thing
was 80 contrary to the tendencies OF human development
that 1t was regarded as impossible, and many reasons
which we're regarded as quite convincing were advanced
in support Of the theory that universal peace was to come
without anything more than little local disturbances to
i'm pede it's progress. Those OF US who argued in that way
either were not in possession Of all the facts or we did not
make proper application of the facts which we had. At
any rate, the war is here. and the fact that it is here has
shocked many people into some slight sense Of their own
falibility.
- A''i'H = '-ot5' "SHia >a'ASL VI ~" -
caused to be incorporated in the Congressional Record
the text Of an address delivered a week earlier by Col.
William Z. Thompson. a director OF the Federal Rererve
Bank Of New York who had been in command Of the
American Red Croas mission TO Russia who had spent
four months in Petrosrad and who according to Mr.. Cal
der had "sensed fully the meaning OF the Russian revo-
luton Col. Thompson's position. his character, and the
opportunities for observation which ne had enjoyed, sure
" entitled him to be heard with respectful attention. Ye.
here are some of the things which Col. Thompson said
some six weeks ago:
THE Bolshevtki at the present moment are a ire
mendous factor in making the Central powers Of Europe
realize that they can never win this war: that they will
be forced to a basis Of reasonable and lasting peace"
Russia il happy in her trials. because Rusaia has
found something which her sons and their fathers and
srandfathers have been striving for. Russia has found
freedom. Russia is a democracy"
Democratic Russia, in my opinion, will never make
d separate peace with autocratic Germany. The present
trenches On the contrary. it is filling the places of de-
serters with new soldiers from the Red Guard. The Rus
sian democracy wants peace az we in America want
peace, az they want peace in France and England and
Italy. They want a peace with a democratic Germany
and not with an autocratic Germany
II very much doubt II the Russia that 1. emerging
from this turmoil will ever repudiate an obligation"
III the present program Of the Bolsheviki; the COM
mon people of Russia, is not successful in aiding the COM
mon people Of Austria and Germany to break down their
autocracies, the Russian soldiers will be fighting again"
There Il. much more TO the samc purpose. Within
sx weeks nc have scen the Bolsheyiki cabaI repudiats
the national indeotednese, order the 1isa r.nanent and
Rehabilitation OF the troops, and yield abjectly to ali the
progressive demands of the German au.ocracy. which 90
day has Russia under ia thumb. And we have seen the
utter abandonment by the Eolsheyiki OF every pretense
OF national spirit, and its confession Of utter heIplessnesa
To defend !tse,f in war or to administer It's affairs in
peace. Colonel Thorn pson necda TO gucss again.