The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-11-23
THE STATES-GRApHIC
WHAT LEVINE WANTS.
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY

SEEKS 10 give SOME luea what ne n
his party desire. 1t appears to have
been written before the attempted ex-
pulsion Of Kerensky from the premier
ship and was in the nature of a pro-
test as well as a statement of alleg-
ed principles. Lenine is evidently OBJ
sessed with the idea that the capitals
istic class must be overthrow. 9th
erwise he is ill-informed and reaches
some wild conclusions, There is
abundant evidence of fanaticism in
what he says and some strong sugges-
tons of demagogis knavery.
He begins with a strong denial that
his party favors a separate peace
with Germany, but through the re-
mainder of the article insists that the
wal should end and even recommends
fraternizing with the German soldiers.
He abuses the governments of all
the allied nations, placing them in the
same class with that>of Germany. He
dosn't specifically mention the United
States, but evidently mean to include
this county under the sweeping desig-
nation, "and other nations" Possibly
he hopes to benefit by the money this
country has placed to Russia's credit.
Every day of the war;" asserts this
supposed prophet of the millennium,
who, in fact, is a wholesale manufac-
turer of the worst form of sheolistic
disorder, "adds to the profits of the
financier and merchant, but spells ruin
and exhaustion for the industrial and
agricultural workers Of all nations,
belligerents and neutrals." On the
contrary, capital is taxed to the ex-
IRENE limit; the commerce Of the CEN
trail powers was completely ~paralyzed
from the time Great Britain entered
the war, while that of the other Ia
tions of Europe belligerents and neu-
trails, is greatly impaired, and the Eu-
ropean governments have each put a
ban on all manner of profteering.
On the other hand, there was never a
time when labor was in such universal
demand and all agricultural products
find instant and eager markets at
high prices. Lenine's purpose was
evidently to rouse the Bolshevski to
the highest pitch of frenzy against the
Bourgeoise, "the financier and the mer-
chant" he specifies, without regard
either to truth or reason.
He appears to be extremely appre-
hensive that Russia may annex the
territory of some other country, but
says nothing of the large extent of
Russian territory the Germans already
have seized and evidently intend to
hold.
Lenine's idea of how the war should
be conducted is gr~otesque to the point
of rare humor. That the soldier should
be paid will be acceded to-we do that
in America-but the remainder ofwhat
he says is rank folly. "The officers of
the militia" (meaning the army, says
Lenine, SHOULD be elected by the SOL
diers and subject to recall, and every
order Of the officers or generals should
be approved by vote of the soldiers"
The old-time populist politician in this
country never had dreams that APP
preached anything like this. Its alb
surdity becomes the greater when it is
remembered that the soldiers of the
Russian army are mostly illiterate
mujiks.
That would in itself be sufficient ev-
idence on which to base a charge of
insanity against the leader of the Boil
Shevki, but that is not the worst. Ell
nally," he says, 1--WE must encourage
at once every attempt made by the SOL
diers on both sides Of the line to fra
ternize." 1t was we'll to make that the
final utterance. Nothing more was
needed to consummate the frenzy and
complete dementia of it all.
1t has only one encouraging feature.
A man who talks like that can't sue
cessfully conduct any movement. He
can't head anything but a mob, and
the mad Bolshevki party under such