The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-27
WHAT is BOLSHEVISM
Wy CATHERINE BREsKoysky

Nothing in the world is so old as
thai which is now called "Bolahe-
vism The history Of every more
OF less civilized people tesuhes that
there has not been theory. ii reli-
eaon ORA philosophy shat has not
been distiCured, misintcrpretcd, on
even abused, betrayed in It's deepest
meaning and ideal
Christianity, AS a teaching ard reI-
gion existing for twenty centuries, has
lstions. has been transformed to the
very antithosis ono has only 10 re
cali the christianity OF such ruler
40 Philip he Second ~ Spain. with
h'a Ihquisiuon. when Whole nations
were doomed 20 be hurue,h and mur
dered IN the narne Of ('hrists love for
humanity, VIC cannot forget too the
Russian Tzar. Ivan the Terrible. who
himself, tortured innocent people
holding cross in one hand and nails
and a hammer in tho other. the whole
time saying prayers addressed to the
Almighty gracious Christ Was that
not BoiSh evism in the sphere of reli-
gton. and have we not seen that all
The perpetrators OF those criminal
deeds were themselves monsters AS
moral and mental characters? What
would have become of the world II
their religion h1d triunphcd ovrr
all the others?
We see now that the harmonious
humane, we'll shaped theory Of Social
lsm, founded on science. thu theory
that teaches lis what reforms and
changes can be successfully n4dc at
this or that moment of history, en-
ieavor,ng TO make these changes with
* little al az nd
aerving all that is good from the cul-
.ure of the past--we see this theory,
the theory OF Socialism perverted into
an appeal for defiance. vengeance.
'TtrfYf'sHry sissfrsctiofr 4irtl the ln1rra1i
ate murder of anyone resisting these
atrocities. l. this Boishcvism not like
that OF Philip II, of Spain, or that of
Ivan the Terrible of Russia? And at
what time II came at the moment
workers for the people. were so near
their aim. when all the desired re-
fornas could have been easily realized
as the people are prepared for them.
Two years ago we had in Russia.
through the legislation of our pre-
Yt>ionai government the best laws IN
surfing political freedom: freedom of
conscience, OF speech. Of press, OF as
So p1hly We had oanality of political
rights for both sexes, and autonomy
for NIL the uatlonaiities inhahiting
Russia If the constituent assembly
had not been dispersed hN tho Sol
shcTist bayonetS, the land would have
hoen In tho possession of those who til
IT, on the basis or specialization The
of Russia would be living
under tho protection Of the most pro-
Nressiye social legislation, safeguard
ing their lives and health and giving
them the possibility, AS far as possible.
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
he constituent assembly would have
realized the sacred hope OF the Rus
sian people,
But there was a plot against this
program and as /, would have been
impossible TO overthrow it by arru-
nents. the Bolsheviki made use Of .
use. BY doubie-dealing they insin-
lated TO our ignorant and so-many-
frnes disappointed masses that again
hey would he deceived. and that the
'nly means 10 assure the success of
he revolution was TO act at once.
Rob the robbers" was the way
-enine put it.
IL was matcn to the dry fuel &C.
during many centuries of
lespotism and suffering. of seryitude
md desolation. For sixteen months !
Russia has been dovonred by the fire
II inquisition, and Lenine fiaunts IL as |
triumph of Socialism just as Philip /
Il Spain, in the name of Christ. re- /
DICED In the burnin~ of his victims as
hey cried and writhed on the live |
Gals of their funeral piles. Philip of
pain, and Lenine OF Russia--both OF !
hem without any feeling for human I
". without any sense OF justice or re- |
possibility towards God or mankind |
such beings cannot be convinced by |
nyone or anything. since their fanatic |
SIN - based on selfishness and |
'bstinacy. and they consider them |
elves above all the laws of. God and |
nan- Even the results testifying to
heir mistakes and errors do not I
mango the course OF their activities. |
the passion for destruction and |
murder can be so called Did VIC not
ee-~in Rome--Nero. Caiigula and
heir successors taking pleasure I'm
uifng people with iron, fire and blood
'bey were mad, perhaps. But who
'noMs about Lenine? Ills policy Is
Of that OF a same brain. and girdmg