The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-25
THE RUSSIAN

Russia continues to be a most unpromising field for recon-
struction work, and the peace conference will find this a knotty
problem to solve. Conditions there are intolerable and cannot
last. Lenine and Trotzky, two international adventurers, are in
complete control of 100000 human beings. Their word is
law, and they have the power of life and death over the people.
The cruelest and most despotic of the cars never exercised
power so ruthlessy as do this pair of worthless, who rule with
the sword and faggot, and put to death anyone who dares chal-
lenge their sway. The soviets are their tools, and the Bolshevik1
are their willing slaves. They have appointed a commission TO
sit in the kremlin, and when anyone is acccsed or suspected
of INSTRUMENTATION he is thrust into a dog wagon and hustled
off to this alleged court, ~ostcnSibly for trial, but really for SEN
tence and execution, The finding of the commission is pre-
pared beforehand by Lenine, and a detail of Mongohan mer-
cenares, dressed up as soldiers, are the official eXecuuoners
Victims are turned over to these hired assassins, who march
them out to a secluded spot and do them to death, All classes
suffer. Obstreperous peasants are numerousiy disposed Oh IN
this way. but the ferocity Of Lenne is vented chiefly on the
propertv-owning class, and those who represent what little
culture there is left in the country, 1t is estimated tnt IooUoo
people have been assassnated in this manner ana inc P9Pula
tons of the larger cities have been materially reduced mere
Is verv little property of any character left, and no ones lie
is safe. -.
What makes matters worse is that the Bolsheviki are mobn-
izing armies and threatening to invade Poland, no doubt 1t the
behest of the Germans, who do not want to see this new nation
rise up as a barrier against the Huns invasion Of the east.
The allies have recognized Poland, and cannot easily abaq-
don her to the wrath Of the Germans, who are boldly claiming
that while in face Of superior forces they retired from the west
en front, they arc indicated and are in supreme power III
the east.
In the face Of such a tragic contingency it is difficult to
conjecture what the allies will do or can do. II the Hun is
not rendered impotent he will continue to act with the BOZ
sheviki, and overrun Russia, and if he makes this a recruiting
ground, much Of the war will have to be fought over again
The outlook is not bright by any means, and may be considered
discouraging. Lenine and Trotzky should be eliminated, They
are the disturbing elements in Russia, and as long as they are
above ground there can be no order or tranquility IN that
unbappy country, where a reign is maintained by blood and ter
rorism. The peace conference should hasten to lay down the
law to the Huns, and make preparation to enforce II" foree
is the only argument that the Germans will listen TO-
How criminal and cruel it is for anyone to be %quibbling
over details and nonessentals when the great potential tact
upon which the life Of the worlds civilization hangs IS the
disposition Of the Hun as a disturbing element Until this IS
done the millions Of people in Russia and the east will remain
in ferment and menace the peace of the world.
As Bolshevism feeds on robbery, plumber and murdeI' 1t
will exhaust itself when there is nothing left to steal and no
more blood left to spill, an eventuality that is frighttul to con-
template.
If the allies are going to do any police duty and bring order
to the world they should bestir themselves and get at it, The
heads OF the twin serpents, Bolshevism and Prussianism, must
be crushed. So long as these remain conventions and written
agreements will have no binding force or restraining influence