The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-05-01
FROM EDITORIAL COLUMNS
Our Russian Ally

Our Russian Ally
Perhaps enough has been written of the
vaor skill Soviet Unions fighting forces General
Douglas Macarthur his anniversary greeting has summed
up all that be said Today the hopes of civilization rest
the worthy banners of the Russian army
But not enough has been said written of the nation and
the peoples behind the Red Army IT, appears ncreas
ngy likely it to have been Russian blood and power
that emmed the tide of aggression while the West modified
to crush hen is certain that this savior in must be-
companion Indeed without the prospect OF
such companonship there could be little hope of postwar
world organized for and construction But companion
ship calls only friendship but above all for understand
ing understanding is most unlikely that Russas
will become ours Russas in the practicable
future.
Meaning of Russias Past Unrealized
The past constantly being recas in terms of the present
todays may umine the future but dmly but the past
fresh and fascinating subject And is important that
learn adapt ourselves to this changing past to the
changing present. lest the meaning of both Such
adaptation is the very essence OF OF
person of people
that there has been lack of books of
seeking explain the Russia to America These in
tepretaons have ranged from bitterly hostile denuncaons
sweey rhapsodies Of of these books
lit Russia she really is On the other hand
lit would be say of any that it totally untrue
Of all be fairly said they revealing of their
thors of the country they sought to interpret
Surely Russia there is fth-and delight in
sona cleannes startling advances in preven
live medicine and the organization of medical care hunger
and provision of future plenty gnor
fascinating inroads teracy and the spread OF
cuure godessness moving spirit that has summoned
dvidua dignity responsibility; regimentation-
initiative and daring dctatorshpand un-
shaken belief in the popular administration OF AFFAIRS One
could
War Revealed Russia's Strength
today academic to debate which picture of
Russia false The present has iumined and has
interpreted past single book could
has all these contrasting elements into evolving pat
tern growth change Certainly this present utterly
another most critical
and most hostile For such people who in the days after
o. 94 able to predict the basis of their version
revolt of the Russia people, the dsinegraon of the Soviet
State.
This much least is true: The deep feudal sleep which
had held Rssas teeming millions for generations in sothfu
despair and terae duness has been shattered for all time
The quckenng magic of opportunity has spread it's vast
areas energized its peoples Yesterdays muzk is to-
days army commander aviator DOCTOR teacher engineer fac
tory worker and tractor driver Russia in the grip OF vast
Transforming driving her into the modern world even
while veges of her feudal past cling to her and hold her
back
Communism Not Real Issue
great deal of time and effort has been wasted in this
country looking for Reds and
Boshevik pay-actng the other Of the the former
perhaps dangerous pasme because it more
effective because isolated from great part of the
people this earth Neither had much relevancy to our needs
and problems.
Soviet Communism something the liberal Western World
need neither fear emulate Our feuda heritage many
generations behind Our characterization can be advanced
without self-dena it matter of refinement and of utilza
of rather than of initial accumulation Our
problems in short, have little in
the other hand the has shown that need the
Soviet Union desperately she needs Out of this
mon need new spirit of federation cooperation
born of achieving greater democracy lies ahead
Russas people, does it before We have yet to
throw from our the burden of monopo capital
ism with it's compuson toward restrictive economic policies at
home and aggressive political policies abroad The vast popu
evoked by the worldwide struggle for freedom that
that bound strengthen working democracy every
where victory approaches
Our Common Interests
Today it is vital that the American people learn to
look with the peoples of the Soviet Unon if their