The 'Conscience' of Russia Against a Separate Peace

The “Conscience” of Russia

Against a Separate Peace
By HERMAN BERNSTEIN.

From time to time disquieting rumors have come to thiscountry from various sources to the effect that Russia was on the point of concluding a separate peace with Germany; that a truce was about to be declared between the Russian and German armies; that the new Russia wanted peace at all costs. Those who know the new Russia, who are intimately familiar with the leaders and their programme, know that these rumors are without the slightest foundation and are, indeed, a slander against the people who have thrown off the yoke of the Romanoffs and who would not now place Russia at the mercy of the Hohenzollerns.
Among the Russian master minds Vladimir Korolenko, the famous novelist, editor and publicist, now holds the place in the hearts of the Russian people that Leo Tolstoy occupied. Korolenko has been conspicuously identified with the struggle for Russian freedom, has been known as a pacifist, and is regarded as the “conscience” of Russia.
In the course of an appeal to the Russian people this great Russian writes in part as follows:–“I feel it is my sacred duty to speak of something which it has not been my custom to discuss, to acquaint my fellow citizens with my fears.“Russia has accomplished a great task. She has thrown off the yoke of centuries. The world now has lost one despotism and gained one democracy. But a short time ago our enemies reproached our Allies for their alliance with Russia, and the Germans styled their struggle against us as a struggle against despotism. Now all the nations turn to our fatherland with admiration and hope, because the young liberty that has just been born possesses a bewitching power which rejuvenates the liberty of other nations, which gives them new life and vigor.“This is the significance of our defence of Russia. By defending our fatherland we are defending the new freedom which the enemy's invasion threatens with fatal danger. If the German flag should spread over our land the flag of reaction would spread with it, the flag of the re-established despotic order. We would be ruled not only by Nicholas Romanoff but also by Wilhelm Hohenzollern. And Wilhelm is eager that Russia shall long remain in darkness and oppression.“Is this not clear to you? In order to avert this danger Russia must stand at her threshold with double, with tenfold energy. On account of this danger let us forget our quarrels, let us postpone our disputes about the future. Down with partisan differences! Let the grave historical hour find Russia prepared. Let all of us look in one direction, from which we hear the heavy footsteps of the Germans and the roaring of their cannon.“The immediate task of the moment is to resist the enemy's invasion, to defend our fatherland and its liberty.“Let us leave to the future the problems of the future. Now we must concentrate, all our energies must now be concentrated on this great decisive hour. It is not enough to rejoice and enjoy liberty. We must deserve it to the end. And we can deserve it in but one way—by making a supreme effort to defeat the enemy.“It may be that the day is near when at the great conference of the civilized nations the delegates of Russia will come and say:–'We entered the war as slaves, but at the close of the war we come as freemen. Listen to the voice of free Russia. She will not utter now the word which the Tsar's diplomats would have said.“Free Russia will have something to say at the great conference of the nations, something which shall lay the foundation of a safe and lasting peace.”