Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-13
Bolshevism Not Limited to Russia.

had ceased, IL il well night inpossi.
BILE to come down to earth and con-
slider clearing away the debris.
While questions of territory. financial
and commercial adjustment. LOCALITIES
and technicaiities should and will DC
settled by the peace commissions, il;
is not too early-it has not for
months been TOO eariy-to recognize
the dangers of Bolshevism.
II we are inclined TO dismiss
Bolshevism as simply the momentary
madness of mob OF ignorant Rus
slams and think no more Of it. we are
ourselves as ignorant as we call
them. The name did originate in
Russia but me thing exists in Rus
sian, in Germany, in England, in the
: United States and is growing with
alarming rapidity
Bolshevism is a form Of socialism,
and is equally difficult Of definition,
but in general terms it means the
elevation of the working class to
positions OF power and prominence
to the exclusion Of everybody else.
TIE Rolsheviki oppose all com
promise with existing governments
and put their faith in one kind Of
revolution, an armed instruction OF
worknen and soldiers. The main
idea behind the whole movement is
the popular and short sighted notion
Of the unequal, but not necessarily
unequitatle, distribution Of wealth
They would insist on a literal appii-
cation of the curse OF Adam: In the
sweat OF thy brow shalt thou eat
bread" and adjust their economics
and politics from and to The laborins
clas; viewpoint only.
The Bolsheviki demonstration oc-
country because the overthrow Of her
long est ablisned government opened
the way for il. The lid was lifted
and the pot boiled over Nobody
knows the whole story OF what has
been going on in Russia FOR the last
year and half, but We do know that
the Bolsheviki go from bad TO worse
that murder. Iootins and unrestrained
lawlessness is the order of the day,
and we also know that wher any gov
eminent, so-called, can announce a
wholesale massacre for stated day
the world is not very safe for
democracy. One of the biggest jobs
the world has on its hands is TO save
Russia.
Within week the red revolt has
broken and spread in Germany It is
Of course too early to prophecy the
outcome, but the removal Of the
kaiser's hand will let loose the sullen
soldiers and workmen whom he has
duped and tricked into submission.
and in their present chaos they may
rend each other much as has been
done in Russia. unless they are pre-
vented by outside force.
England and America will have
their Bolsheviki problems to face
with the return to conditions not Of
war. A great Majority of the work
ing men in these two most enlieht-
ened nations look upon this conflict
as A rich mans war, which fattens
his pockets and at the same time
gives him credit for idealistic hu-
manitar.anism which he does not pos
sess. When one of these rich men
can go to New York for two days
I'd come back to his summer home
and casually say to his carpenter, Il
made $4,000 last night" the carpen-
ter is likely to do some thinking.
The strikes and labor troubles that
have been Of frequent occurrences
during the war may be expected to
sro~ more numerous and more Sc
we're with the cessation Of hostilities.
partly because the patriotism argu-
ment will no longer tend to check
them, and partly because the bottom
is to fan from the fools PARADISE of
government wages. Those who have
been receiving unheard Of wages will,
not give them up without o murmur.
They will find small comfort in being
told that prices will 60 down for tf.ov
know that prices and wages are not
arranged on a sliding scale.
1t will require sound economies
and wise craftsmanship to deal with
this phase of readjustment which is
one OF the most important OF all our
peace problems. 1t cannot be handled
by George Creers political nisin-
formation bureau. 1t is not a JOB for
Burleson or House, or any other
agent" but for the big minds and
The loyal support Of level-headed
Americanism. We drifted into war
unprepared and proclaiming our ie-
norance by protesting our fitness. We
are drifting back into the strong
trade winds of peace stern foremost
and as amazingly unprepared as we
were for the gales OF war-everv-
body aSIeen on Tho sbin 80 49,.