Evening star., 1926-10-31

sword for years after the revolution, is passing.
The bad example of czarist days was merely a
pattern vastly augmented by those VINO toi-
lowed. The smothered crack of the rifle is
not often heard and sanity is returning
with the realization that the world is passing
judgment, with no means to enforce 1t except
through public opinion
AS for America it is not so much the restitu-
ton of property and the Acknowledgement OF
debts. as it is a token of good behavior that is
sought The Russian government spurned the
American Nation when it repudlated debts
owing America. Here is the handspring OF
the distrust that is felt of this new power that
has arisen and that holds in it's grip many
millions of people.
These are not savages nor are they blood
thirsty. They weary Of wars and yearn
for the peace and prosperity that would come
from settled industrial and political conditions.
America does not claim mandate over Russia
and does not presume therefore to suggest the
form that her governing body should take, nor
what laws for protection punishment she
should pass. But if approached for succor,
financial or otherwise she may, without i'm
propriety, express an opinion on the conduct
of the suppliant, and determine whether this
conduct justifes the extension of relief and or
what terms
Russia is now ready to negotiate for the
re establishment Of repudiated debts and to
make amends. The United States has said
that cooperation is necessary to accomplish
these purposes. The original steps were taken
without counseng with the United States and
these measures can be Cancelled in the same
manner.
The attitude of both parties Is such that
there would seem to be no permanent bar to
an eventual understanding. The visitor to
Russia wonders why she feels it necessary in
a time of peace with army ample to cope
with any foes, should they arise, inside and
outside her borders, to continue the repressive
measures over those who once ruled and pos
sessed in Russia, but who now are in poverty
and despair. One of the avowed objects of the
revolution to raise up the poor. While
lifting these up, why create another class with
O11t citizen ShiO2
This is what has been done with the So
called "intelligentsia," the bourgeosie, If you
please. If it was an offense to possess the land
and the goods, Is not loss Of everything and
nine years in helpless terror sufficient punish
ment, and has not the time come for Russia
to unity her population and go forward to her
destiny? She make a better case abroad
if she can demonstrate that she rules justly
and mercifuy at home. THE animosities,"
Thomas Moore said, "are temporary; the
humanities last forever
1t is not clear that the time Is ripe for the
United States to enter into diplomatic relations
with a nation that treats many of her people
as outlaws because they do not accept COM
munsm. The Soviet form of government for
those who believe in 1t is defensible, but COM
munsm has been superimposed upon it to-
gether with those things offensive to mankind,
such as the breaking down of social laws,
blasphemous attitude toward the spiritual life
as indicated by the songs Of the soldiers who
sing 1--WE shall pluck down all of the gods out
of the heaven'-the spirit of intolerance, and
the threat to bring about revolution in other
countries. The time will come when Russia
will abandon these follieS, then, when Russia
has made restitution diplomatic relations will
be more acceptable.