The Cordova daily times., 1919-05-01
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1919.
MISJUDGiNG RUSSIA.

A strange confounding of two antagonistic ideas by some of the statesmen at Paris is responsible for much of the clash of counsel in the peace conference, for the indecision and many of the errors of the con ference, in fact of the greatest peril that confronts it. It is the chief pur- pose of the conference to end the war by a formal treaty and to erect safe guards against a recurrence of war by creating a league of nations. In MT. Wilson's words, the world is to be made safe for democracy" Cherish ingt his noble aspiration, some of the commissioners have, nevertheless, been persuaded that the soviet gov ernment of Russia must be viewed as a part of the world movement toward democracy, that it is democracy, and if not treated with and recognized, is, at least, not to be considered as a subject for oppressive action. That is an astonishing delusion, for almost at the outset of it's career, Bolshevism, by dispersing the constituent assem- bly,, representative body chosen by the suffrages of the Russian people, showed itself to be the very opposite of democracy, denial of the founda- ton principles of democratic govern ment.
 In their subsequent career of blind \ destruction, the Bo1sheviki have held steadfast to that early rule of con of speech and of the press; they have tolerated no opposition to their rule, to their political methods end prin- ciples. They have slaughtered those who resist them, those who were guilty of no offense against them save that of belonging to class they have prescribed, class against which they arc making war. By innumerable mur- ders and assassinations they have es- tablished reign of terror, which is their great defence against any at tempt of the Russian people, the enor- nous majority of the Russian people, to overthrow them. They have ruined Russia, they have destroyed its indus tries, ley have brought it's people to the vt ge of starvation, and beyond it, for many have actually starved. Great cities are in large part depopu- lated. They are in arms against al- lied troops sent to protect the Rus sian people from their violence. By hordes of emissaries and lavish ex- penditure of money they have stolen tkey are seeking to overthrow other governments, and to establish pro- lctariat rule with all it's deviltries throughout the world.
 These are the facts of the situation tablished by multitude of witnesses. They are known by the incontrover- tible testimony of Ambassador Fran cis, whose high character and un- equaled opportunities of observation and experience gave him personal Knowledge of the truth. Why, then, was it thought to be necessary to send personal, unofficial envoys to Russia to confer with the authors of this devastation? Why in particular, was it thought expedient to choose for this mission men disqualified for i'm partial service by their extreme radi- calism, their known and avowed sym pathy with the aims of the BOlshevtki, men of no competence for task de- manding close observation and sound. unbiased judgment? Why was the in vitation issued for the Prinkipo con- ference? The answer to these ques- ytions is to be found in the delusion that Bolshevism Is democracy. that its aims are democratic.
 It is a delusi0n that an intelligent survey of Russian conditions should dispel at once It Is a delusion that, 1t would seem, could not survive the briefest examination of the professed and published principles of thessoviet government. It is not government of the people, but by class the