“Some of you argue that Russia’s pledge to her Allies was an Imperialist pledge and that you have the right to ignore it.  Have you forgotten so soon that the prime cause of Russia’s entry into this quarrel was that Austria had threatened to crush a free nation, Serbia, whose race and faith are yours?  Besides, a pledge like that is still a pledge, though governments may change.  Would you have it so that no people, from this time on, shall trust the word of Russia for fear that a new regime might repudiate it?

“We have been patient and made allowances.  We know that a great nation like yours cannot overthrow an age-long tyranny without being shaken through every fibre of its being.  Time was needed for you to recover your balance and to resume a sane view of your obligations to others than yourselves.  So we have been patient, and are patient still, though the inaction on your Front and your withdrawal from your part in the common struggle have made our burden in France far harder to bear.

“If you fail us, we shall no less fight on, we others.  ’We shall march prospering—­not through your presence.’  We shall fight on till the ideals of Kaiserism, your worst enemy, are crushed.  America, that great Republic that loves peace as passionately as you, will take your place, will fill up the gap that you leave in the ranks of those who fight for freedom.  And we shall fight till we get the true peace that we want—­not the peace which some of you have advocated, fraternising with the common foe, listening to the specious pleas of those who shirk the one test of their honesty when they are asked to revolt against a tyranny as least as deadly as that which you have yourselves overthrown.

“But you will not fail us, I know.  Your hearts, as a nation, were once in this War; heavy as our sacrifices have been, yours have been heavier still.  Why should you change?  Why should the birth of your own freedom be the death of your sympathy with the cause of the freedom of the world?  No, you cannot fail us; you are too great for that.

“Forgive me,” Mr. Punch concluded, “if, in speaking from a full heart, I have allowed myself an excess of candour.  At home they have always been very kind and let me have a charter to say just what I think; and I have been doing it, without much distinction of persons, for seventy-five years and more.  If to you, who have been dumb so long, this seems beyond belief, permit me to offer you, with sincere affection and regard, a visible proof of my privilege in the shape of my

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND VOLUME.”

[Illustration]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  INDEX]

CARTOONS.

  PARTRIDGE, BERNARD. 
    Against Tyranny, 369
    Also Ran, 157
    Answer to Peace Talk (An), 9
    Blighted Prospects, 109
    Breath of Liberty (The), 211
    Cancelled, 183
    Catch of the Season (The),