The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-11

of promise are printed in capital let
tiers.
It was their moral obligation to
keep this promise made to the people.
It was necessary to keep 1t, IL there
was to be genuinely free Russia.
Who could anticipate and who would
dare write out and put into operation
the plan of government without giving
all of the people Of Russia a chance
to pass upon the plan and help formu-
late It through their own chosen rep.
resentativesf
This was the first promise the boil
shevik leaders made to the Russians.
They broke It., 1t has never been full
filled. In the constitution and DEGREES
of the soviet government they have
tried to explain, excuse and eondone
this breach Of promise. Fairly In
terpreted, all they have said In de-
Tense Of this abuse Of power, this vio-
latiOn of trust, Is in substance: 1T
was necessary TO dissolve the Consti-
tuent Assembly; 1t might have inter
fered with our Rans; 1t might have
jeopardAed soviet government" What
right did they have to think. act, and
decide for the people any more than
the car had2
In speeches and writings Lenine and
TrOtzky have since in a yelled way
suggested that the peasants elected
members of the middle class to
represent them instead of peas
ants. What of It? If the peas
ants make mistakes they will learn
and profit by their mistakes. They
cannot become Independent until they
get a chance to exercise independence.
No man can get muscle by letting an
other fellow use the dumbbells. The
Russians-peasants workers ana
bourgeoSe--are all human beings, and
n government, to be democratic, must
be, as Lincoln put it, "of the people,
for the people and by the people" A
government that is afraid Of the infiu-
ence and power of three or four per
cent of the people isn't able TO live,
and II doesn't deserve to.
Gladly oaeyed Ien'ne'
Lenine issued his famous order'
peasants, seize the land" This com
mand was obeyed with great enthusi-
assn. They forgot all about freedom
ana the constitutional convention
Ihey understood what 'ahu hieal'''
they had been taught mat by belhG ue-
MED II. They knew httle ABOUT
political phrases and framework. Inc
order to seize the land tore from the
serfs their heaviest chains. Lenine
became their liberator-his was the
voice that said seize the lahu'
| Probably the peasants would nave
done II anyway. Disorder ana unrest
had destroyed aii respect for properly
rights. Property rights had diHer-
ent meaning In Russiathan elsewhere
property rights meant the right 10
beat human beings. to buy ana sell
serfs. Yet the faet that Lenne mao
uttered the words made them reverence
and respect him, even as man VIII
be Thankful, TO one VINO mas told MN
| TO be careful or mole IN the sue
walk, Notwithstanding the TACT lie mas
already seen 1t. Bolsherism started
with great popularity. Ihis WAS the
secret OF II.
| OF course the order to seize the
land, all land. was based on the Idea
| that the owners of land held title ny
and through their own wrongful con
| duct. God had made thc ground and
sunshine. and those who had taken u
tie to ithad only moved on and forced
others off. This Is the way the Dol
Sheviks reasoned, and from this poin,
of view they were consistent. From
the worlds point OF view 1t was con
hScation. " was dishohest. MANY
people believe mat acquiring property
Is frequently the result Oh industry
and thrift; In some cases the utle 10
property Is based upon cunning scheh'
ing ana force. All OF US know 'ha'
there are some who nre without any
private properly because the! pre-
fer TO squander their time, disslpate
their energy ana i've shirtiess lives
After all, IT Is n matter OF OPINION. aho
from the point or view OF the boishei
viks the order peasants. seize the
| land may nave been 1uStlnea.