Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-06-14
Why We Fight
No.
Because Germany Menaess the
Freedom Of the World and Russia
Can no Longer Resist
BY !. spEED

because it is a war for freedom more
truly than ever before was a war
fought for the liberty Of man. In times
past, II Is true, men have fought for
freedom from Oppressors. Sometimes
they have won and sometimes they
have lost. But always there has been
a place in this big world where those
who had lost in the struggle ut home
might go and find n country where
they might enjoy the liberty they
loved.
Now all Is different. II 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 q refuge from Prus-
sian domination. Every land under
the sun will be directly or indirectly
under control Of the victor; and If
the victor Is autocracy, freedom per-
ishes.
The land where freedom Is most i'm
mlnently 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 czar 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 a 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 ear 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 d~lsorganized to fight fur
Their, coupled with the thought that per.
hnps the revolution had come too soon
to be effective.
Then followed the brief regime Of
Kerensky, when 1t began to look as
though freedom in Russia might be an
organized freedom, prepared to fight
for its rights, and all America hailed
the Russian revolution as a blessing.
1t had become absolutely correct to
say that the war was a war Of democ-
racy against autocracy. No pro-Ger-
man could longer point to the car,
whenever an argument arose.
Finally came the bolsheviki revolu-
tion, in which Kerensky was over
thrown. Russian industry and Rus
sian society were disOrganized, and
Russian armies ceased to fight. The
kaiser's armies pressed on unopposed,
took what they desired In spite Of q
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 autocracy. It devolves upor
others to fight for the freedom Rus
sia must have.
The experience Of other nations ha'
been that men who loved freedom
were willing to fight for 1t, and to di,
for 1t If necessary. The Russian at
tltude of nonresistance was Somethin,
new in the world, and is hard to un
derstand. The bolsheviki represent
ed the extreme idea of liberty. T.
them freedom meant not the right o
the majority to choose their form o
government, but the right Of the indl
yidual to be free from all forms o
governmental restraint. They woul
tear down the old order completed!
at one stroke, and set up the mi
lenium. They would divide the lane
the factories and the tools among til
workers, and lave no masters hence
forth.
Even in Russia, however, there wer
disScnters. Some took up arms; an
the boi ~..ovNsi, who fought the Gel
man not al all, fought their brother
ms. t,.2gjously. The result was Al
arch. iaWleSsneSs. massacre, the di'
org .1ution OF the railways and tn
failure of the food supply. The mi
leniu.l refused to come at the mer
decree of the bolShevihi. 1t was show
. that there must be t,ganization an
government Of some sort.
Russia will not longer fight side b
side with her CORNER allies. SO IL
siduous has been the German prop;
ganda that, in many instances, Russia
hatred of the allies seems to be dee,
er than hatred of Germany.
Therefore the United States came
render direct aid to the S%trurrlinC no,