New-York tribune., 1918-11-06

the situation is complicated. The Dual
Monarchy contains many peoples ear
nestly struggling for freedom and self
expression In that struggle all elements
were welded into unity Racial tenacity
and patriotism overrode all class divi-
sions and interests. Now that the day
of liberation is dawning it is inconceiv-
able that the spirit of unity can be cor
roded by a relaxation of the restraints
imposed by alien oppression.
The Czecho-Slovak state is the reali-
cation Of an ideal which generations OF
Czecho- -Slovaks have dreamed of and
fought for. The Czecho-Slovak armies
in Russia have set an example of the
highest devotion and strictest self-disci-
plne. They showed themselves excep-
tionally fit for nationality land self
government They can be Strusted to
maintain at home just and progress
sive republic.
The same thing is true OF the South
Slavs They desire above all things
racial recognition and self-rule. They
want to create state which bears their
own impress. They are unaccustomed
to democratic freedom in their ordinary
life, but they have the idea Of 1t in
their minds and hearts. They are
pledged to Western European and Amer
lean standards of democracy.
The new Hungarian state is an i'm
provisation. Hungary has been ruled by
an iron-handed aristocracy-the great
patricians and land owners The head
of the new republic, Count Karolyi, be-
longs to that caste. There is large
dissatisfied proletarian and peasant ele-
ment in Hungary, which may exhibit
Bolshevist tendencies. 1t is reported
that the peasants are already burning
the castles of the landed proprietors.
But the Hungarians are proud and
ancient stock, inhabiting a little island
in Central Europe. They cannot sur
vive under the new order unless they
show themselves capable of holding
their own politically and economically
Necessity, as we'll as racial pride, COM
pels them to meet the tests of democracy
or to be absorbed by the reinvigorated
nations which will surround them.
German Austria has proclaimed
Socialist republic It's future is uncer-
tain, for in the decayed Austrian mon
archy there has been a more or less vio-
lent antagonism between the upper
classes and the proletariat German
Austria is, however, mosaic, just as
the Austrian Empire was. Vienna may
be Red. 1t revolted against Ferdinand
in 1848 and maintained a republic for
several months. But Tyrol and Upper
Austria remained loyal to him. They are
anti-Socialist and monarchical now. They
serve as makeweight against excesses
Of radicalism and Bolshevism in the
capital and in the other industrial CEN
tres.
Germany's political status remains to
be determined. Her people distrust their
own capacity for government They
will retain a limited monarchy, if they
have their way. In case the German
Empire is dissolved the way may be
opened for a union of the more demo-
cratic South German states with German
many only if the whole present German
order goes to wreck.
But whatever happens to Germany
the end of the war will see Central
Europe turned into a vast proving
ground for the democratic experiment.
The time is propitious and the conditions
are there which make for success. Yet
true democracy is an inner growth. 1t
cannot be imposed on peoples not ripe
for it or fit for it. The world will ap-
plaud the effort of these new states to
modernize themselves and to get out
of the dead back waters of the past.
But they must stand or fall by their own
showing. Their salvation is in their
own hands. Democracy means free op-
portunity and the survival of the fittest.
These new states can become permanent
democracies only if they exhibit the
democratic virtues of justice, orderliness
and self-restraint.