New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
Reign of the Archaic

produced in the human soul when
archaic impulses long repressed by
the inhibitions of civilization begin to
break through and govern ones acts,
then much that is now taking place in
the world may eventually be understood.
1t is held by this theory that when the
repression fails and the archaic impulse
prevails the acts that result are not
those of simple savagery, but assume
fantastic guises, somewhat as in dreams.
That is to say, the victim of a failure in
repression does not become a savage
again and behave as an utterly uncivil.
lied person would. He still observes the
empty forms of civilization. He con-
tinues to speak the language of an
acquired morality. He uses modern
words and symbols to justify acts which
in spirit are archaic.
No psychologist has extended this
theory beyond the conduct of individuals.
But may it not be applied also to the
behaviour of peoples? If so, and if tho
theory itself is sound, it may save us
from the distressing belief that very
great number of human beings now
are mad.
In the case Of Germany you are
obliged to choose between the thought
Of a nation gone mad and the theory of
a people having reverted to savagery,
with all the weapons, the knowledge and
the dialectics of civilization at the dis
posal Of their archaic will.
The Kaiser weeps at the sight of the
abominable devastation produced by his
soldiers in France. He wonders why his
enemies" were so wilful as to bring this
calamity upon themselves. A few days
laterahe calls for special services IN the
churches to purify his people. In one
speech he boasts of the power of the
German sword and refers to himself as
the "prince of peace" His ministers
prate of freedom" and talk tenderly of
the self-determination of small nations.
while at the same time they take cruel
and ironical measures to appropriate to
Germany that which is essential to the
survival of small nations, even their
bread, and do it in the name of God!
Are the Germans mad? Perhaps no
more than those savage tribes who.
though they lived by war and conquest,
yet performed rites of publication after
each slaughter. The head hunter, bring
ing home his CHASTITY trophy, was him
self for period Of days taboo, and the
head became an object Of reverence. The
tribe would put it up in conspicuous
place and offer it delicate morsels to eat.
even sometimes forcing food into it's dead
mouth. Solemn rites were performed to
reconcile the spirits of the vanqus shed.
Songs were intoned, sorrowfully up-
oraiding the enemy for having got him
self killed.
II one could see deeply into the sources
OF human conduct at the very dawn of
moral awakening perhaps one would
know why savages behaved in this wav.
But were their acts more incompre-
hensible than the commiseration Of Ger
many with her victims? Is the picture Of
savage tribe offering food to the dead
mead OF rival warrior chief less dis
gusting or amazing than the spectacle of
the Kaiser weeping over France?
In the behavior of the Bolshevik lead.
ers In Russia you see again what NAV
not be the contradictions of madness at
all, but merely the fantastic nav of in.
fantile and archaic impulses against an
inherited social background. At Brest-
Lltovsk the Bolshevik delegates per-
formed an act of remuneration unparal-
ieied IN our time. 1t seemed at first a
majestic, unbelievable gesture Of nom
resistance on the part of great, naive
people. But it was not that The Rms
sian Bolsheviki want neither peace nor
freedom. They are bent on another form
OF conquest, namely, conquest of the cap-
itatistic order. They have no shrink no
from blood and violence. In the pursn;t
OF their object they can be as tyrannical
and merciless as Germans. "If the
Czecho-Slavs will not disarm." saws
Lenine, "then shoot them" Evidently Il
will be their own fault if they get killed.
All anti-Bolshevist elements are ia ha
put down without mercy or restraint.
Counter-revoluticnists are executed. and
the summary procedure against them is
defended on the ground that it is neces-
sary to Organize terror against the ene-
mics Of Soviet rule"
This in the name of freedom and
democracy!
We ought to have an inquiry into tho
psycho-patholoeical ststs of the world.
Savagery has broken through. In sense
more real than we have thought, civili-