Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-08-18
AND NOW COMES RUSSIA

hdVlnB saved western ana CEN
trail Europe with billions OF loans
and the gift of hundreds of millions
of foodstuffs and other supplies,
while those people remained in COM
parative idleness and the highest of
prices prevailed in our own country,
we are now to repeat the process
with Russia, if reports are not mis-
leading" says the republican pub
licity association, through it's Pres
ident, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.
Senator France has spent few
days in Russia as the guest of the
soviet officials, and has become con-
WINGED that a loan of about $4,000
0O0,0 from the American treasury
will put the Russians on their feet
again and enable the Russian gov
eminent to demonstrate a continued
ability to function. From another
source we are informed that under
certain conditions America will send
foodstuffs to Russia to tide the peo-
pie through the winter made desc
late by a miserable government and
an unusual drought. The condition
is that the Russian government re-
lease a few Americans who were
foolish enough to enter that country
and tempt fate.
"Why is 1T that the United States
must fly to the aid of every country
of the Old World that insists on des-
troying its substance by rushing
recklessly into war or experimenting
with forms of government that CEN
turtles of experience have demon
strated always bring ruin in their
wake? The World war and its dis
tressing aftermath was due solely
to the refusal of the people of Eu-
rope to assert themselves and pro-
claim freedom from self-appointed
rulers who sought to exploit their
subjects for personal glorification.
The situation in Russia can be blam-
ed only on the absurd government
that prevented the people from ac-
cumulating a surplus to tide them
over unusual weather conditions
that have prevailed this summer.
There may have been some salts
faction in extending reconstruction
aid to central Europe, as the peoples
Of those countries were in the throes
of breaking away from their tradi-
tional rulers and setting up govern
ments of their own. There was
some prospect, that once relieved of
their present distress, they would
see to it that unprovoked war did
not come again and that they would
busy themselves with peaceful pur-
suits. But in Russia there is no
suggestion of a change of govern
ment. Senator France expresses the |
conviction that the soviets are mere
ly passing through a process Of dog
ical evolution; in fact, the four bill
lion loan that he proposes is to be
made 60 that very government to
enable 1t to keep its hold on the
country. The Russian people have
been impoverished while the Rus
sian government has made war upon
about every nation within reach, and
carried its communistic propaganda
and sent its agents Of revolution
into every country in the world. A
loan from America would be moth
ing less than a reimbursement to
Russia for money and supplies ex-
pended In that way and doubtless
much Of it would be spent to con-
tinue those programs of bloodshed
at home and organized discomfort
abroad.
HAS anybody estimated the cost
to the allies and to the United
States of Russia's detection during
the war? 1t is quite possible that
the war would have ended without
che entrance of this country had not
the soviet government compelled
the withdrawal OF Russia, and the
United States might have been saved
the expenditure of $4,000 lives and
$4,000, 100000. Now we are ask
ed to perpetuate that same govern
ment with huge loans of cash and
enormous gifts of foods and sup
plies. 1t is too much for even Amer
lean altruism.
1.-THE United States demonstrated
its affection for the Russian people
in the dread famine of 1891 when
millions were saved from death by
food sent them from America. we
are ready to repeat that contribution
but one of the conditions thereto
should be that the soviet armies be
disbanded, the soldiers returned to
: productive occupations, and a stop
put to the requisitioning of food
supplies to continue war against the
Poles, the overawing of the Armen-
fans, the war-like threats in ST.
IBERIA"