Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 287, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1917 — Crucial Moments Of The Allies Lies In Immediate Future. [ARTICLE]

Crucial Moments Of The Allies Lies In Immediate Future.

The worst has happened in Russia. Not unexpectedly, it is true, but until the final step had been taken there existed ground for faint hope that something would intervene to prevent the betrayal of the allies by the Russian people. The disciples of anarchy are in the saddle in the land of the Romanoffs, and the great bulk of the German troops are on their way from the eastern to the western front to strike a harder blow at the heart of human liberty. What is transpiring in Russia, what her discordant elements are doing, is veiled behind the curtain of Bolsheviki censorship. But this much is known; a separate peace is to be concluded with the central powers, and prisoners of the central powers are being mobilized in large numbers in Petrograd for the purpose of release. As a result of the peace pact, sealed in infamy, it is probable that Roumania will be driven to conclude peace also, her ability to stay in the fight depended upon the support accorded her by Russia. Beating Russia for perfidy or heaping anathamems upon the heads of the leaders of the Maximalist movement is merely waste of energy at a time when we should concentrate our minds upon the problems that the betrayel has brought to us for solution. . The Russian people want peace more than anything else in the world. They do not realize that they are purchasing at the price of their own freedom; that in effect they are to beconie mere vassals of the Prussian war lords.

Germany big business is ready for the industrial invasion of Russia. While German armies fight upon the west German business interests will be found industrially digging into Russia. Circumstances offer Germany great opportunity to entrench herself at the expense of other nations. Germany efficiency will be brought to bear in reorganizing the transportation systems in Russia. German manufacturers will be pioneers in Russia anti-war markets, German money will assist in rehabilitating the country, under guarantees that will make the investment safe. No where else will Russia find a nation that will lend assistance under existing circumstances. But Germany will do it and make it pay just as she made it pay in a political way in Austria-Hungary and Turkey, German control wil| safeguard her enterprises against the vaganes of Russian—lunacy. Germany will be able to get large, food supplies and other essentials from Russia and ingratiate the empire in the good graces of the defacto government, depending upon the ability of the Bolsheviki to continue in power, and Germany is clever at paternalism. In view of the weird ideas of government held by the Maximalists permanency can scarcely be expected for their regime, but it may continue for a sufficient length of time to answer the purposes of Germany.