THE SISTER OF DEMOCRACIES

The Russian revolution was hailed in this country with the most exuberant delight. The mass of people stated with confidence that now Russia was rid of her pro-German autocracy, and would fight unhindered with the other great free peoples of the earth against the thraldom of Germany.

That was a valiant hope. But it was sadly untrue to what history and wisdom might teach us of the courses of revolutions. Freed from that social order and that political burden which had bound them from immemorial time, it was inevitable that the Russian people should grow exuberant with the intoxication of first liberty. Much as we, much as the Allies, might wish Russia to enter in the common war against Germany with renewed fire and fiercer incentive for victory, yet our wishes nor the wishes of the Allies could influence a people before whom an instant and more obvious liberation was opened. Russia is much like a small boy who has a job to do, but who, receiving the legacy of a dime, loses interest in that work which may only bring him a nickel.

We should not blame Russia for an indifference to that war upon which she was the first to enter. She is going the road of political freedom in a few months, which other peoples have only passed after long centuries of struggle. It could not be otherwise than that immediate liberty should swallow up the desire for a more remote national liberty.

Yet since Russia, living for the present will in all likelihood give up the war in which she has embarked, because of a false democratic understanding with Germany, and a shallow sentimentality for imperial-made socialism, America will be driven to fight thrice as hard. Much treasure will be consumed, irrevocable months will be lost, and many thousands of our brave countrymen meet death that Russia may be freed from the threat of that which may overturn her new found liberty.

We will pay the price that Germany may be defeated. It is a gift for the stability of our unsure sister democracy.