Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-06-10

outcast. The man who has saved
little money. earned In the sweat O
his face, and invested ii, is not per
mitted to become a citizen; the mar
who has a little shop-it may repre-
sent the sacrifices and savings Of bis
whole life-cOmes under the ban, he
lis unit for free citizenship in bolShe-
] Vik Russia; the farmer who hires
help, and almost every farmer is COM
/. PEELED to employ help in the harvest
lis denied the right to vote or hold
AN office.
/ The man who devotes his life to
religion, who comforts the poor, visits
the sick, the servant of God, is driven
from the political house; he Is denied
the right to vote. 1t is dangerous to
give the thrifty, the Industrious, the
vote, The fact that they were born
in Russia, that their parents and
grandparents were natives to the soil
tor centuries, means nothing. These
disfranchised ones speak the Russian
language; 1t Is their only tongue.
Their blood has had a part in Russian
suffering. The bOlshevik constitution
exiles them. They are natives without
a country; and why? Because by hon
esty and industry they have saved
little; because they have tried to get
on. Lenine says such people are filed
with dangerous ambition; they are
climbing the ladder of capitalism;
they are dangerous to the proletartat.
The soldier is not an employer OF
labor; he cannot be; he Is given q
vote. The sailor is not an employer OF
labor; he cannot be; he is given q
vote.
The constitutional provision defining
puts a premium on indo>
lence, penalty on industry; 1t encour-
ages waste; it Furnishes economy; IL
makes the successful an Outcast; 1t
makes of the ne'er-do-welI a cittzeni
frugality, thrift and Industry are
crimes; those who possess these quail
ties are branded as undesirables;
hey are denied citizenship. ~
& No PossibIe 9ustificaglen.
Lenine tries to- justify all OF this
~ saying that in the transition from
capitalism to socialism it is necessary
o rule with an iron hand. Capitalism
must be destroyed. The system must
e uprooted. Even so, what right has
4enine, without the consent of the
majority, to take citizenship from ma
i've Russians? What is his excuse for
t? Where is the force Of his argu-
rent? Even admitting, for the sake Of
rgument, that communism, bOlshe-
ISM is panacea for all the Ills Of
le human race, what right has Lenins
nd his minority to force 1t on the
eople of Russia? Conceding his creed
for the common good, is it not his
rst duty to make the people see and
nderstand its virtues, and then, by
I'd with the majority consent, put the
eed to the test? TO assert that his
'ogram Is economic does not change
e fact that his methods are not DEM
ratio. The Lenine system of dis
the people is bound to de-
DraliZe them
How can a people be free without
lrning self-reliance, without trying
If government? Proclaiming people
ae does not make them free. Free
m Is action. 1t is thinking. 1t is the
ility to govern ones self. 1t comes
I'm experience and exercise in gov
ming. ones self. The definition of
,edom is elf-determinatiOn and the
rd self" is an important part OF
: definition. Admitting for the mo-
mt that Lenine is trying to govern
people for their benefit, although
is not giving them thinking part
the government, does 1t not follow
It his methods incapacitate the
)ple for self government? How can
child learn to walk except by try
, al :. even though the child STUN
$ and falls, is bruised and hurt,
Sc experiences are part of the edu-
ion in walking.
Real Test of Freedom.
he right to vote is the test OF free
II. Rob free man of his voting
It and you make of him something
, than free man. 1t does not mat
whether you treat him well or not,
you rule him without giving him
In his own government, you de-
~ his independence. Suppose the
sttution of debating society,
se, farmers grange, labor
on, declared that some members
Id hold office and vote, while others
e not eligible for Office and could
vote. What would be the position
he body Of those who were denied
right of participation In Its affairs?
y would be compelled to obey the
IS, do the bidding and bow to the
h Of those who had the right to
:. What would be the effect upon
voteless onesI They would be de-
they would become non
ties. Those possessing the voting
er would grow arrogant, arbitrary
autocratic. The war Of the ages,
struggle Of all history, has been
fight Of men for equality In gov
nent. The right to vote is the test.
yright 1880, western Nswspaper uniana