The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-06-27

]
ing to take a wrong step, they re-
main with folded hands but con-
tinue to observe slowly: Certainly,
1t is a pity to see such a large coun-
try in a state of devastation, her
population starving and lost in
darkness; yet, as we are not certain
which is better, or worse, for her,
Bolshevism or Monarchy, we, as i'm
partial spectators, cannot permit
ourselves to meddle."
Strange reasoning! AS if Rus
STA is doomed to either of these eX-
tremes, as if she must live life to-
tally different from all the other
nations on our earth. Even if the
Russian people are possessed of GER
tain characteristics peculiar to
them, even if their historical and
geographical circumstances have
given them a national psychology
distinctly differentiated does not
mean that Russia can sidestep the
general trend of civilization while
all the rest of our world is sue
cumbing to the common laws of
progress. In its details the devel
opment of social life may very we'll
differ in different parts of the
globe, or even continents, but now,
when mankind is so we'll linked to-
gether by every kind of tie, when
every country is dependent upon all
others, how can a State differ so
greatly from all others as to con-
struct a mode of government, a
mode of life, opposed to the march
of progress and the common needs
of humanity? 1t is impossible, and
therefore We see the hated despot-
ism of Lenine going the way of the
hated despotism of the Tzars.
We must also bear in mind that
all through the last century Russia
gave proof that she bred citizens
who did discern what the true needs
and ways of their Motherland and
her sons were. These citizens
fought bravely across the trenches
and barricades erected by the
FTzar's regime to check the progress
of the people. Was it not their
hard work, was it not their sacri-
fices, that undermined the strong
hold of Tzarism, this stronghold OF
despotism, superstition and ignor-
ance? Russia had them then, those
brave fighters, and Russia has them
now. All their faith, all their prin-
ciples, all their programs are with
them. And until they attain the
aim they have put before them, I'M
til they see their people free, self
governing and civilized, they never
will put down their arms.
1t would be absurd to think that
all the devoted children Russia has
brought up, her brave sons and
daughters, that all have deserted
her and that no one is left to watch
the progress of her efforts to clear
her way to a life of freedom, JUS
tice and accomplishment. 1t would
be an insult to suppose that the So
cialists and revolutionists who have
risked their health and their lives
for their people that this people
might have a noble future-to sup
pose them capable of deserving
their cause and remaining indiffer-
ent to the misguidance and strife
which the enemies of Russia on the
one hand, and the selfish intrigants
and plotters on the other, have i'm
posed upon our suffering and ig-
norant people.
1t is a great mistake to imagine
that the spiritual forces of Russia
are no more. Perhaps never before
has our beautiful country been so
rich in conscious and devoted minds
and souls as during these moments
of awakening from a slumber of
centuries. Not only in the intelli-
gent middle class have we now citi-
zens fully aware Of what must be
done to preserve the rights gained
by our people in the Revolution of
March, l917-we now have many
such enlightened minds among the
vast masses of the peasantry and
the workingmen, minds that under
stand that besides rights there are
also duties. They know that 1t is
their duty to be faithful to the
democratic principles of self-gov-
eminent based upon equality of
rights and freedom. These minds
will never yield either to the Grim
fna1 ViOlpnca Of Iauina or 10 A.