New-York tribune., 1918-03-25
Russia in Yiddish Eyes
Translated from an article Rerouon by the Petrogad
Corxesnoudent OF Daiu yevsh For1vad No11Uaeytsl

~
II DO NOT want 20 give you facts neither
do I intend to tell you stories; until
letter will reach you the facts
will be old and the stories will become
stale. Besides, the facts of the recent oc-
currences are not as rich in theatrical Ell
fects as it may seem from newspaper re
ports. ! would not advise you to go to Rus
sa to see the Revolution with your own
eyes. 1t is better to wait few years and
read the history of the Russian Revolution.
In the works of the historians the Revo-
luton will look more attractive, moro holl-
day-like and more dramatic The table will
be all set for you and everything will ap-
pear spc and span, while we here in
Russia stand now in the kitchen of the
Revolution, SO to speak, whore the plain
potatoes are being peeled and innocent
fowls being killed for the feast. No;
| do not want to write about the facts. 1T
is enough that | them. will try to
penetrate into the soul of the facts and
into their psychology. | have an idea that
the psychology of the war that is raging
now in Russia is worse and more dangerous
than the war itself blow may be forgot
ten, but a word remains. The psychology
of the war it has evolved among US will
remain even after the war, and then, when
the bodily wounds that were inflicted dur
ing the Cain and Abel war will be healed
will begin to feel the destruction of the
soul.
Moral Disintegraton
The spiritual destruction, the demorali-
zation, which is the result of the internal
is actually appalling. The internal war
morally HaOrnrOnc than ato all
1t might be waged for the highest and most
beautiful objects, but the means that are
employed are degrading and bcsmirching
Observe the internal war in Russia. Arc
not the words Liberty. equality and frater-
nifty" inscribed upon it's banner? But this
banner is being carried by both contending
parties. In the Duma of the city, where
the majority is socialistic, in the Smolny
Institute, the headquarters of the Bolshe-
wiki, representatives Of workers and peas
ants are assembled. But these revolution
lists and Socialists suddenly began to de-
bate in the language Of cannons and dis
cussed with the aid of artillery. Some way
out must be found from such kind of de-
bate
Our Bolsheviki and our Menshevki; our
Socialist Revolutonists of the right and
our Social Rcvolutionists of the left wings
how did it happen that they should meet
each other with guns and armorcd automo-
biles! Aren't they of one people? They
are all workers and peasants representa-
tves Of workers and PEASANTS They all
have one object, one ideal, one programme.
Only yesterday they were affiliated with one
party and were members of one club. Some
of them in Moscow belonged to the same
faction even at the time of the fight when
they were shedding one another's blood. It
is not so easy to find way out of this diff
hcult situation. 1T is not so easy to blame
one or the other, for they are both Social
lists and Revolutionists, and speak in the
name of the same classes of workers and
peasants. Every party is, therefore, COM
PEELED to assume that the opposing faction
is only masquerading as Socialists and that
in reality they have sold themselves to the
capitalists.
Every party states that the opposing
group consists of people who were Revolu-
tionlsts once upon time (for it is mpos-
slble to deny that), but that now they are
agents of the counter revolution. In short,
they assume that those who oppose them
are not mistaken, but that they are inten
tionally wrong (for which they ought to be
shot, and they trying to prove their
opponents to be dishonest
Those who disagree must be proven to be
liars, swindlers and traitors This is the
tify itself before it's own conscience. And
this is the policy pursued.
A Carnival of Slander
The Bolsheviki claim that Chernow sold
himself to the land-owning aristocracv.
The Menshevki claim that Lenine is an
adventurer, a swind!er and a man who aims
to get power, and is not in the least inter.
ested in the welfare of the working classes
Such accusations are not made only apains.
Leninc and Chernow, but against nj, So
calist leaders. They are rcncated ovor,,
day in every newspaper and at every moot
ing. Everybody is being libeled and viii
fed. The "Ruskoyc Znamia." the of,c;a,
newspaper Of the "black hundreds" duripo
the regime of Car Nicholas, was an cxnn
pie of deccncy in comparison with the So-
c'ailst press Of these days of internal war
A"u these statements are read by com
l"o" ignorant RUSSIAN peasants and work
crs. They don't know that these accu.o-
tons are exaggerated. They accent thon,
as truths. They believe the panors ana
the speakers who do not take their psvcho1.
ogy into consideration The "provao, !,
states that "Zereteli" and "Libern and +ho;,
followers want to prolong the war nurnoss-
~ because they are serving the interests
OF the Russian and British capitalists TIL,
readers accept IT Gospel truth and con-
s'der Aeretell and Liber arc enemies of tho
people and contemplate traitors. The cop,
mon people arc accustomed to look fo,,
those who are personally responsible foy
all evils. 1t Is impossible Cor them to un
derstand tho causes that have led IN this
ehtangled situation, and if any one tells
them that such and such people do not Der.
n't that tho land should be taken from tho