East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-06-07
GREAT WHITEBEAR
STIRS ITSELF ACROSS
RUSSIA'S STEPPES
Russia win Dominate Europe
Within Fifty Years as other
Powers Did Centuries Ago.


. PARIS, June (Sdwin w. Hulin
|, ger. U. p. staff Correspondentl- II
Russia win dominate Europe With,
fifty years politically, cnlturally. per
haps even militarily just as spain
Sweden, France, Germany and Other
western powers did during centurie,
lpast.
This Is the expressed opinion Of a
surprisingly large number of well.
posted observers of current history
here. in both academic and diplomatic
circles Frequently the admission
comes grudgingly. il the interviewer
pc French, for no Frenchman viii
Willingly admit that his country's
day is setting. But few will deny
this trend of events.
The day OF the western European
powers is already on the wane and the
center of gravity OF European civil
ization win soon shift across the Car
pathianS. Russia will be the next
great nation to make its master contri-'
button to mankind and Russia's day
Is coming soon, these men say.
There are many factors which place
Russia in particularly favorable po-
sitton as regards the rest of the conti-
nent.
Physically Russia is by far the
strongest economic unit in Europe.
She is the only nation on the continent
that can be absolutely self-supporting.
as the term is used in the relative
sense applied to the United States. She
has her own coal industries and ra.
WAYS; raw products for her factories
and plenty of grains and foods for her !
population.
Despite the conditions said to pre-
vail in some of the larger cities at
present, Russia has not been weaken
ed by the war as have France, Italy
and Germany Nor has the holshevik
regime permanently depleted or drain
ed the deep reservoir of national re-
serve power Figuratively speaking.
Russia has simply received a hard rap
that stunned temporarily.
Given time to reorganize industries
not a lengthy process broadly
speaking--given peace. both internal
and external, Russia will quickly rep
resent the most powerful economic
force on the continent.
Russia is already undergoing a po-
itical awakening. For years Euro
Dean statesmen have secretly realized
he tremendous power latent the other
iide Of the steppes and tremblad at
he thought of the time when it should
become active.
The Bolshevik revolution sent thou
sands of former or prospective politi-
al leaders in foreign lands where
heir knowledge of practical world af-
airs has been enlarged and their eyes
opened to their own country's possi- !,
,ilities. When this. tide of immigra-
ion flows back into Russia. it will ,,
lave a profound effect on Russian
'olicy. ekg
The reign of the red has also Stirred
he minds and hearts of the peasant ,
masses as they have never been NOV
ID before. The returning exiles- win
ind far more attentive listeners and
-eady followers than they might have
iound had it not been for such catac-
ysm. For the Slav mind works deep
y and slowly and is not isturbed by
purely surface stimuli.
Political observers predict an un-
era of progressiveness in
russia during the next few decadesgl
Unrestricted by the weight of tradition
the western European
Russia will offer an un
Usually favorable field for develop
nent of new and constructive ideas.
Russia is already the
coming nation Of Europe. Russian
music is the vogue in concert halls
ma drawing rooms and there is every
'eason to believe that as Italy, Ger
many, and France in turn held tho
place of prominence in the musical
world, so Russia is about to hold the
worlds ear.
iization's wealth of philosophy will
bly, come from Russia, many in
;ist Rome, France and Germany
nave all made their gifts and have lit
lie more to add. Russia, the largest
body of humanity on the continent,
mas not--as yet.
The Slav mind. meditative, dreamy
patient has for centuries been abb
sorbing the best ideas produced by
he best rains of all lands. Russian
writer's, such as Tolstoi. Turgeneff.
and others have already
won seat for their county in the
halls of literature.