Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-30
WHAT ABOUT BOLSHE

HOW ABOUT BOLSHEvISMA ANYWAY 1t started-on a big
scale in Russia. 1t has spread through Germany and Austria. Allied
countries are tainted with the germ to some extent and the danger Is
freely discussed by high government officials. Of the allied countries
Italy is generally accredited to have most of the virus.
WHAT IS BOLSHEvISM9 In plain American, it is much the
same thing as the doctrine of the more wild-eyed of our l. w. WIS,
when that doctrine is accepted by a majority, as it is in Russia by the
Soviets. 1t means industrial warfare unrestrained and unintelligent
It means blind revolution that loses itself in fury. 1t means today
what the ''Terror' and the Commune meant in the early days OF the
French revolution. Because out of that Terror" and the Commune
grew the present French liberty we know that Boshevism is not alto
gether hopeless. But it is a mighty uncomfortable and devastating
and brutalizng condition, and to be avoided.
WHY IS BOLSHEVISMf Americans recently returned from
Russia, who ought to know what they re talking about, say that want,
hunger, and economic human misery and political oppression of the
masses were the causes there. In other words poverty, poor pay for
the worker, denial of manhood rights and political rights, exploitation
and degradation of the common people. The explosion came, and 1T
was what might have been expected. Bolshevism in Russia is no
strange growth it was inevitable.
Travellers of the time have written that the same condition that
preceded the outbreak of Bolshevism in Russia preceded the Terror
in the French revolution.
Since we have had reliable news from Germany and Austria we
have learned it was poverty and rear-famine, in these cases suddenly
brought about by war conditions, coupled with political disorganiza-
ton that went to create the deepseated discomfort that Is now bllndiy
seeking expression through a score of revolutions and counter-revolu-
tions. Their rulers exploited the people to the last limit in a vain
attempt to hold the western line-and then the worm turned, worm
like.
It is plain that poverty and starvation, political and economic OPP
preston, and ignorance are the symptoms of Bolshevism. But it is just
as plain that the symptoms lie dormant until a weak government, or
utter political disorganization and public disorders comes along to
fertilize them.
1t was not until the power of the French monarchy had been over
thrown a century and a quarter ago that Bolshevsm and the Terror
arrived. Similarly in Paris in 1871. The same in Russia. Also in Mex
ice. If Bolshevism wins in Austria and Germany, the above rule will
again come true except, perhaps, as to uneducation.
To have BOlshevism in a country therefore, the following evolu-
ton is apparently necessary:
Long continued denial of the right of free expression. Mass con-
viction that it is oppressed.
Ignorance.
Poverty. Hunger. Misery.
weak government.
Disorganization of government and general disorder.
WHERE DOES UNCLE SAM COME M That is a question
that, it is vain to deny, many overly fearful Americans-big business
men for the most part, with or without guilty consciences-are ask
ing themselves. And we say, UNCLE SAM DOESN'T COME IN AT
ALL. We haven't the symptoms badly enough for this Bolsheviki to
break out on us, and there is little danger of our ever having them
badly enough. Conditions here ire not perfect, but our people are
far from desperate; they have better weapons than bullets to right
those conditions whh-balots-and they know how to use them and
viii use them.
There is only one possible source of danger in this country and
that is that a reachonary and Understanding government-therefor
a weak government-wil get into power and, once in power, attempt
to deny the people their right of free expression. But it is a mighty
far fetched possibility in a free government like ours.