To the Russian Soldier

SOLDIER, what hast thou been under Nicholas the Secone? Thou hast been a slave of the autocrat. Conscience, honor, love for the people, were beaten out of thee in merciless training by whip and stick.

“Kill thy father and thy mother if they raise their hands against me,” commanded the autocrat, — and thou becamest a parricide.

“Kill thy brother and thy sister, thy dearest friend and everyone who raises a hand against me,” commanded the autocrat, — and thou didst kill thy brother and thy dearest friend, and becamest like Cain, shedding the blood of thy kin.

When the gray coats appeared in the streets and the rifles and bayonets glittered — we knew what that meant: it was death stalking! It meant death to those innocent and hungry ones who thirsted for brighter life and raised their voices bravely against the tyrant. It meant death, destruction, peril, tears, and horror. Thou wast terrible, Soldier!