Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-19
side" Reports of the secretary's ex-
periences in France are already vi1di-
eating this belief
ONE WEAR

One year ago Emperor Nicholas was
pushed off his throne and the world
acclaimed the new Russian "democ'
racy." The giant had awakened, we
said; his long sleep ended, his letters
broken, he was on the road to liberty
and independence. Autocracy was
dead; Russia had found itself; the
dawn of new era in the land of shad
ows was hailed wherever there was a
love Of human freedom and right.
Yesterday, Just as the first year of
Russia's freedom" closed, the soviet
congress, representing government in
Russia, if anything can be said to rep
resent government there at this time,
voted with an Overwhelming majority
to accept the made-in-Germany peace
treaty which the kaiser forced on Rus
STA through the medium Of the bolshev-
Xxi, bought and paid for with German
gold.
In exactly year Russia has achiev-
ed her own ruin. A year ago she had
millions of soldiers under arms, big
stores of ammunition, unlimited credit
with the richest Of the worlds nations,
the good win of every righteous race
and government and an open road to
national integrity and self government.
Today Russia is wreck. Words
cannot describe the hopelessness into
which her people have been plunged as
a result of Germanys Vaccinations,
which have been furthered at every
turn by the socialists of every grade of
radicalism, idealism, honesty and dis.
honor.
Russia, In her weak and complete
surrender to Germany, furnishes the
most startling conviction of socialism
the world has produced. 1t is not
merely an indictment of socialism; it
is conviction.
Prince Lvoff, Kerensky, Trotzky,
Lenine-these are the socialists who
have wrought Russia's ruin, abetted
and seconded by ignorance, cupidity,
idealism and cowardice. All, from the
first premier down to the most ignor
ant mob member, have been working
Germany's will. Some have been
aware of it and have labored for Ger
many in the hope of reward; others
have followed what they thought was
the path to national democracy.
The result would have been the
same if Prince Lvoff or Kerensky had
remained nominally the head Of the
so-called Russian government. The
damage to Russia was done under
their regime. Lenine and Trotzky
merely organized the wrecking crew to
complete the destruction which had
been set on foot even while Prince
Lvoff was premier.
Because socialism was the inspira.
ton and the foundation of the attempt
to establish order and government in
Russia after the revolution, that at.
tempt was foredoomed to fail. Never
was a greater error made than that OF
confusing the meaning and sense OF
the words, socialism" and "democ'
racy." Socialism is as much the
enemy of democracy as is the autoc.
racy of the kaiser. Russia, even under
the iron rule Of the terrible Romanofi
dynasty, was more fortunate than she
lis now, with Ger1nany's mailed fist
gripping her throat and anarchy
ruinous poison flowing in her veins.
AS long as the car continued rul
ling Russia there was hope for reform
and democracy Now there is only the
prospect Of generations Of serfdom un
| der Prussian domination. unless
strength is given to Germany's enemies
| to overthrow the autocracy of the
lHohenzollerns and bring the world tc
| it's Senses
The Russian people cannot be blam
ed for the ruin of their hopes and the
collapse of their dreams. Socialism is
! the cause and the author of all theil
misery, all their failure, all their de