RIGA

The announcement of the armistice signed at Riga between Poland and Soviet Russia, while not entirely unexpected, comes, nevertheless, as welcome news. From the time when Hoskiusko and his followers, failing in their efforts to gain their own freedom, crossed the seas and fought successfully for ours, Poland and America have been firm friends. It was with anxiety and resentment that Americans watched the advance of the Red army upon the Polish borders; anxiety for the courageous little State, resentment that our own officialdom should do no more than write another note to Moscow. But, thanks to the fighting qualities of the Poles, and to timely artillery assistance from the French, Poland is, for the present at least, out of danger.

How long it will remain so is another question. The country has so long been a buffer state that the European nations have come to regard it as martial currency in their diplomatic barter and trade, and may not easily break them selves of so fixed a habit. Nor is the word of Soviet Russia to be trusted implicitly. Under such conditions, and with Germany casting sheep's eyes at the port of Danzig, Poland enters upon her first peaceful and truly organized period of existence as a republic.

It may well be, that, having decisively proved her abilities, she will no more be interfered with by the powers of Central Europe. It may well be that Riga will prove to be another Yorktown. It is to be ardently hoped that such is indeed the case.