The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03


ana a disposition to take financial
adventure. Germany lies adjacent to
Russia. I am told there are 100000
Germans who speak the Russian Ian
guage. The intelligencia OF Russia
has well nigh disappeared. At least
80, 900 have been assassinated, and at
It's best the intelligencia OF Russia
had not demonstrated great powers
OF industrial organization. The I'M
perial spirit Of conquest has net been
killed in Germany. When the war
started the axis OF German ambition
pointed toward Bagdad. Now it will
swing around toward Moscow md the
rich world beyond There Will be an
escape for Germans from the slavery
OF indemnity by migration to Russia,
and an almost free field for German
direction, because there will be few
Russians left with capacity to direct.
Indeed in some quarters It Is believed
that there has been German planning
to the killing Off of the Russian in
telligenoia, which was but another
phase of that devilish cunning which
destroyed the machinery Of Belgium
and northern France without military
necessity but only that commercial
competition might be ended
Opportunity for Americans.
II America cares to grapple for a
hold on this vast chaotic world of
Russia there ia a wonderful opportu-
nifty. The American mind compre-
bends Russian conditions. II our peo-
pie would go over there in force, GO
ing with a desire for service in their
hearts, rather than with narrow views
Of immediate exploitation for profit
we could give Russia a future and
save her from a fate that would make
wide difference In the writing OF the
| next hundred years of the worlds
history. II we keep hands of. the
Russian border will offer an opportu-
nifty for escape from indemnity servi-
tude to many Germans, and the gen.
ius for pitiless human organization
which Germany unquestionably has
will And a wonderful field to display
itself upon the Russian people.
These two examples OF Prussianisn
ana Bolshevism are extreme and not
particularly good examples Of what
mean by the "power OF minorities.'
The point that I wished to make II
one that I found illustrated In many
European countries. of what an active
minority can do pitted against Q
phlegmatic majority, and particularly
phlegmatio majority which has little
solidarity.
What I have seen leads me to be-
lieve that 1t might be possible In ans
country to change the course of gov
eminent, TO overturn the form OF gov
ernment, indeed even to impress upon
| the people q new form Of social order
while the great majority of the people
7 had no desire for such a change and
took no active part in bringing II
about.
Countries Exposed to Bolshevinm,
I believe that spread of Bolshev.
ism In Europe can come either
through contact with Bolshevik coun'
tries or by a spontaneous outbreak OF
Rolshevlsfn in community where In.
dustry has been pnralyzed and idle
ness is followed by want and hunger
There are fourteen countries border
ing on Bolshevik Russia, and they are
directly exposed to the contagion
/ Proximity, however, would not be nee
essary to a development in one form
or another OF revolutionary move
ments looking to the establishment OF
communistic society. In every coun-
try in Europe there is a minority that
Is profoundly suspicious of and dis
satisfied with the capitalistic order
They found that democracy did not
bring to the proletariat what 1t con
sidered to be its rightful share. Their
they organized labor unions and the
weapon of the strike came into use
The organization OF strikes to enforce
the demands for higher wages me-
with success. so far as wages are
measured in units of currency, hui
frequently met with failure to better
the condition OF the workers because
Of advancing cost OF living. Men go
higher wages and found themselves
worse of. This has contributed tow
ard building up a sentiment OF suspi
cion OF the very foundations Of thu
present social order. and everywhere
England included. there is a signifi
cant minority that refuses any com
lpromise with the existing order. tina
looks upon all concessions to labor II
the form of higher wages, shorte
hours, unemployment insurance u
even profit sharing as a sop thrown
lby capital TO divert or confuse thu
working elass. -