The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-01
BY JUSTIN McGRATH

Paris, Feb. 2s--Russia must find
herself. That seems to be verdict of
the allies statesmen
It-uay be along and painful
process, both for Russia and for the
world. but 1t is realized now by the
statesmen OF the great nations who
are assem- bled in Paris, that there is
no escape from it
There was a time, of course, when
they entertained other ideas There
was a time when President Wilson
held the confident hope that Russian
liberty could be relied upon to reach
the state of maturity and wisdom
without passing through the period OF
| sowing wild oats. He expressed this
belief in vivid language in his mes
sage to congress advising that a state
of war be declared to exist between
United States and Germany. He
| said in that message:
Does not every American feel
that assurance has been added 20 our
hope for the future peace OF the world
by the wonderful and heartening
things that have been happening
within the past few weeks in Russia
Russia was known by those who
knew it best to have been always in
fact democratic at heart. in all the
vital habits of her thought, in all the
intimate relationship of her people
! that spoke their natural instinct.
I that habitual attitude towards life.
The autocracy that crowned the
sum nit of her political structure, long
as had stood, and terrible as was the
reality OF its power, was not in fact
Russian in origin. character or pur-
| pose; and now it has been shaken
Off and the great generous Russian
people have been added in all their
native majesty and might to the
forces that are fighting for freedom
| in the world: for Justice and for peace.
Here is a fit partner for a league Of
honor"
MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED
Many things have eventuated since
that confident declaration Happen
tngs in Russia have rudely shattered
Mr.. wilson's illusions that the Russian
democracy could be taken into fun
partnership with the league of ma
tons without period OF probation and
could be relied upon from the start
TO be an efficient and available part
ner, Undoubtedly Mr.. Wilson has
been obliged regretfulfy to revise his
opinion. But despite his disappoint-
ment in the Russians-and to him
unquestfonably the Russian chaos is
a great and shocking disappointment
attitude of friendliness toward the
Russian people and their aspirations.
He has been adamant to the sugges-
tons that the best interests OF civili-
zation demanded that the Russian
Bolsheviks be made to feel the iron
hand OF the other allied powers of
Europe and of the United States. He
has felt that would be both an IN
grateful and an unwfse course.
He has remained firm in the con-
vfctfon, against the most fnsistent and
most powerful persuasion. that the
best way to meet the deplorable and
difficult conditions In Russia is
through kindness and reason. rather
than by harshness and force.
He gave his consent to American
participation in the military invasion
OF northern Russia only because he
was led to believe that such an ex-
petition would be the best way to
afford opportunity for the people of
Russia to express their will as to the
character of government under which
they wished to live. He did not be-
lieve the government OF tyranny.
established by Lenine and Trotzky.
represented the real wishes Of the
Russian people, but was inclined to
regard it as an auxiliary of German
autocracy whose aim, primarily. was