Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-08
SOME BOLSHEWST FACTS.
BY DIR. FRANK CRANE.
Copyright, 1872

Let the discussion Of bolshevism
go merrily on. But let us make sure
we know what we are talking about.
There IL too much unthinking pas
sion on both sides. One side Jumps
bolshevism, socialism, anarchy and
all labor trouble together and blind
ly berates them ell. The other side as
blindly flies to the defense Of boil
shevism from the habit and disposition
of championing what the other side
condemns.
1. There can be little doubt that
the crimes and cruelties attributed
to the bolsheviki have in some cases
been exaggerated. News from Rus
STA has not been reliable. At the
same time. when SO many reports
all agree that Russia is undergoing
reign of terror. we have a right
to conclude that there is a modicum
Of truth in the allegation. Where
there 10 so much smoke there must
be some fire: If it is asserted that
false. from what source. more relia-
BILE. Is this assertion drawn? We have
every reason to believe that this new
regime in Russia Is not producing
prosperity. peace or Justice.
2. Bolshevism is not socialism. Mr..
-
Ject. declares it is exactly the oppo-
site Of socialism and out Of harmony
with the teachings of Marx. the ex-
ponent of socialist principles. Spargo
ia a socialist.
g. BoIshevism is not democracy. 1t
is opposed to democracy. For 1t is
the essence of democracy that the
majority rulel 1t Is the essence of
bolshevism that a minority rule. AS
Lenin puts it, 1t is based upon ''the
dictatorship OF the proletariat"
4. Bolshevism Is exactly the same
in its method as csarism or kaiserism.
For its gist is that small group shall
rule the whole people. OF course,
they say it is "for the peoples good"
That is what the car and the kaiser
AS Nicholas Tchaykovsky said: THE
bolshevist usurpation is the continue
ton of the government by which
czarism held the country in an Iron
grip" And Paul Axelrod called it
"a worse system than czarism."
s. Lenin. the bolshevist leader, says:
"Just as 10000 lordly landowners
under cxarism dominated the 10000
600 of Russian peasants, SO 100000
members of the bolshevist party are
imposing their proletarian will upon
the mass" Russia 10 not getting the
kind of government 1t wants. but
what Lenin and company think is
good for 1t.
8. BoIshevIsm can only succeed "by
destroying all the democracy thus
far achieved" (Spargo.)
z. Bolshevism disfranchises not only
the Bourgeois" but the greater part
of the working class"
8. Bolshevism Is the class idea run
mad.
9. Bolshevism is autocracy pure and
simple. 1t implies autocracy in the
workshop as we'll as in the state.
10. Bolshevism sets it's own theory
up against the accumulated wisdom
Of history and the combined expert
ence and convictions OF mankind.
II. The evils and dangers of boil
shevism do not arise from the human
frailty Of men imbued with a true
ideal, but are the natural and in
evitable consequences Of a false and
pernicious principle-to wit, that
the majority shall be saddled, bridled
and ridden by a self-appointed mi
ority.
~. Bo1shevism established itself by
military force, by a coup d'etat, as
all tyrannies have been set up. 1t
was imposed upon a population rem
dered helpless by a long reign OF
cxarism and by a disastrous war.
10. Bolshevism is not Russian, SO
much as it il Prussian.