Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-24
Success OF American Relief

THE American people have a right to feel
genuine pride in the generous measure
OF relief which they have extended to mil
lions of starving Russians. There is no
diplomatic relationship between tho Ameri-
can and Russian governments. The Soviet
regime of that country has shown unmis-
taxable evidence of hostility to American
institutions and has encouraged, with such
resources as 1t had, assaults upon the de-
mocracy of the American nation.
This fact has not deferred Americans
when their hearts were touched by appeals
Tor help. We were willing to forget Bolshe-
Vism and all its sinister activities in remem-
berlng that humanity transcends politics and
potentates and governments When the cries
or distress from the men, women and chill
dren OF a blighted nation were heard here.
we not only poured out our money as in
dividuals, but the government itself appro-
prlateo handsomely from the national
treasury in order that Russians might be-
fed and that thousands of lives might be
saved
Approximately s5o,oo0,Ooo of American
money was contributed by one means or an
other In less than six months to provide for
relief In Russia No such merciful enter
prise ever before was launched by one nation
IN It's eaGerness to help another Ships
were chartered in numbers and almost over
night cargoes of foodstuffs were being
rushed to the stricken people OF Russia
Earlier cargoes were followed swiftly by
Others and in less than three months from
the time the American Relief Association
undertook its work OH a large scale, tens
of thousands Of impoverished sufferers were
heing sustained by food from American
farms and hresides.
1t is now reported that the worst of the
famine has passed Relief has been ex-
tended to all who needed 1t and were at all
accessible. Mortality among children has
peeh reduced TO normal, It Is stated and
deaths from acute starvation among adults
are rarely occurring. simultaneously a great
change in spirits has come over the people
in the famine districts. Hope has been re-
vived among them and feeling OF self
reliance has reappeared.
1t will be necessary to continue the ship
ment OF foodstuffs to many sections of Rus
sia, IL is stated, until the coming harvests
IN the early summer. This will be COM
paratively easy matter it is added. notwitb
standing the disorganized condition OF trans
portation in Russia. American relief OH
Gals nave taken over a measure of railroad
administration and, under the whip of literal
necessity, the Russians have given right of
way to food shipments
Under all the circumstances American re-
les IN the case OF Russia has been one of
THIS nations most creditable achievements.
IL would have been easy to make excuses
when appeals were received from the suffer-
ing people. Americans might have stood
aside, allowing starvation to complete the
wreck OF Bolshevism, or have made it a
condition OF relief that the Russian peopIe
repudiate degenerate government Moth
ing OF the sort happened with malice
toward none and charity for all" this coun-
try gave whole-heartedly from its abundance
TO succor distressed people, leaving them
TO deal in their own way and in their own
time with government that had sought to
undermine and to tear down American in
stitutons