Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-25
Shallow Of Bolsheyism

THAT half q the governments OF Europe
l arc standing in constant dread OF the
spread OF BolShevisn 10 their people and the
other half IS scarcely less anxious is perhaps 4
natural feeling on their part They have seen
Russia slmost consumed by this madness. They
hsre seen Germany almost on The point OF
surrender TO it and they have seen its sweep
through Austria Nor is the labor unrest
now prevalent in Great Britain altogether
foreign 20 the Rolshevist spirit. France has
8 type 90 socialism that IS closely akin to
the Russian radical system. and even Italy
has problem On lis hands 10 keep the con
tasion from crossing SIS frontiers.
II is scarcely conceivable that Europe
would allow its civilization 20 DC swallowed
in such an epidemic. II is almost unbeliev-
able that grea, powers like Great Britain
and France and Italy should BE- swept into
= maeistrom Of governmental lunacy. There
is sharp reaction in these countries now that
the war and its obligations are past. There
IS unhapptness and there IS mourning and
hunger still even in the victorious countries.
Men and women who are told that the war
is over find that whereas this may be true
wars hardships are still 10 be borne and
such people are rebellious. They Go not
understand Why there should be food short
age and fuel shortage and out7ag eous prices
and lack OF work az : time when the war
has been won.
Once peace is actually declared. however.
and ornaments are relaxed. embargoes are
lifted, trade routes a-e -eopened and bust
ness resumes its pTe-wa- standards. much
OF the unrest will pass away. a, the same
time a great deal OF the distrust with which
the people OF the European powers regard
their governments will cease. In its place
will come larger measure Of confidence and
desire TO build up rather than tear down
-is;- al
life ceaters
TIE real basis OF Bolshevisr in Europe IS
hunger. It was lack OF food that cost the
Ronanon dynasty its life. Revolution in
Russia never would have come in the midst
OF ute-aud-death struggle with an alien
enemy, except that the great mass Of the
Russian people was approaching starvation.
Then when the revolutionary regime failed to
bring relief, it, 100. was doomed The mad
dened men and women turned to the Boshe-
visits for deliyerance. The deIiverance has
not come it is true, bat there is still lin
gering hope that il may. Once that hope is
blighted the hungry Russians will turn
against Lenine and Trotzky with the same
rsurderous impulse With which they cast
Kerensky of.
The best antidote for Bolshevtsm in the
allied countries OF Europe, also, Is food Give
the millions OF working people plenty 10 eat
and reasonable prices, and nothing need be
feared from the radicals The present Ger
man government seems to understand the
condition which it faces It clamors day in
and day out for food. II il does not come
this government declares. all Germany may
go mad as has Russia, and it is not diff
cult to believe this 10 be true. In another
year Europe will be able 10 ration itself
to a large extent, but the crisis is nova
crisis which will not pass until the new
harvests come in.