Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-04-10
WHAT IS BOLSHEVISM?
Continued from front page.)

stituent Assembly had not been dis
persed by the Bolshevist bayonets the
land would have been in the possess
| ion of those who till it, on the basis OF
specialization. The workingmen Of Rus
STA would be living under the protec-
ton of the most progressive social
legislation, safeguarding their lives
and health and giving them possible
ity, as far as practicable, to participate
in the management of the industrial
life. The majority in the Constituent
Assembly was held by the party OF
Socialists Revolutionists, and under
the leadership of this party the Con-
stituent Assembly would have realized
the sacred hope of the Russian people.
| But there was a plot against this
program, and as it would have been
impossible to overthrow it by argu-
ments, the Bolsheviki made use OF
ruse. By double-dealing they inslnu-
ated to our ignorant and so-many-
times disappointed masses thai again
they would be deceived, and that the
only means to assure the success of
the revolution was to act at once. "Rob
the robbers" was the way Lenin put
it.
It was match to the dry fuel accu-
mulated during many centuries OF des-
potism and suffering, of servitude and
desola3ion. For sixteen months Russia
has been devoured by the fire of inqui-
sition, and Lenin fiaunts it as tri-
umph of socialism, just as Phillip OF
Spain, in the NINE Of Christ, rejoiced
in the burning Of his victims as they
cried and writhed on the live Goals OF
their funeral piles. Phillip OF Spain
and Lcnn of Russia-both OF them
without any feeling for humanity, with
out any sense Of justice OF responsible
lily toward God or mankind.
Such beings cannot be convinced by
any one or anything, since their fanatl-
ciSm is based or selfshness and obstl-
macy and they consider themselves
above all the laws of God and maa.
Even the results testifying TO their
mistakes and errors do not change the
course of their activities, if the passion
for destruction and murder can be so
called. Did we not see-in Rome
Nero, Caligula, and their successors
taking pleasure in ruling people with
iron, fire and blood? They were mad,
perhaps. But who knows about Lenln
His policy is not that Of sane man,
and, girding himself in these policies
of incessant terror and violence, 1t
cannot be chat he enjoys moral state
Of mind ;nd spirit
The absurdity and criminality OF the
Bolshevist terrorism are so evident
that some sincere elements, most OF
them very young people, who joined
the Bolsheviki at the beginning, at
tracted by the bold.ess of their theory
and by their demagogic promises, have
left them long ago. Lenin's tyranny
lust like the cars tyranny, is the
rule of very small minority over a
great people through armed force. But
Lenin's tyranny is even worse ana
more destructive than that of the car,
and therefore the longer Lenin stays
in power the rore possible becomes
the return of Russia to czaristic reac-
ton. The moa:rchists of Russia, al
though they are very neglible minor
ity, are becoming bolder day by day,
, and we old Russian democrats must
now fight on two fronts-against Le-
, min and the Bolshevili of czarism. 1t
is a very hard task, and probably some
years will be spena before we see our
people realize their IDEAL of freedom
and Justice of education and fedora
ton into a whole and strong state,
happy in their own life and friendly
to all other nations.
There is one hope for Russia, and
very strong one-that is our peasantry
This class cannot long endure the
chaos brought about by Bolshevism.
The existence Of their families, OF their
husbandry, is at stake. Traditionally
they are religious, and they ask for JUS
: tice and truth. And there is no doubt
that under the general depression and
l anarchy which is ravaging Russia
there is stratum Of strong characters
J and honest souls that will tear of the
! lcrust II vice and depravity from the