“But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts--for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. “To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.” Within the last few months some changes have taken place which injures the cause of the Entente and will endanger the lives of many Christians. The revolution in March (1917) in Russia was a great rejoicing for the lovers of freedom. But when some extreme Socialists claimed self-assumed authority as the deputies of the Socialistic Council of Soldiers and Workmen and seized the Provisional government and set up the Bolshevik reign by violence in November, they did not think that they were depriving themselves of the fruits of the revolution and democracy. And when they were intent to give peace to the war-worn nations of the world that they did neither think of their inability nor the Teutonic duplicity. And when their delegates met with the delegates of the Germanic Allies in peace conference in January (1918), then they, for the first time, learned that they had to submit to the victor’s terms or fight. But to fight was impossible. They had already demoralized and demobilized the Russian army. The German forces began their advance into Russia at once. The Bolshevik delegates, who had broken off the conference and refused to sign the treaty, hurried back and signed it in February. Accordingly the Russian armies are vacating Turkish Armenia, which they had occupied since the summer of 1915. Russia has also to return to Turkey her former conquests in Armenia. Thus about 1,500,000 Russian Armenians and 300,000 Armenian refugees from Turkey are to be exposed to the Turco-Teutonic outrages and massacres. It is the most gloomy outlook. Yet God still reigns. “Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. “Judge not the Lord by feeble Sense, But trust Him for His Grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. “Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain; God is His own Interpreter, And He will make it plain.” FOOTNOTES: [176] “Don’t let me be told that one nation has no authority over another. Every nation, ay, every human being has authority in behalf of humanity and justice.”--Gladstone. [177] Toynbee, “Armenian Atrocities,” pp. 71-2.