Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-12
''The Swing of the Pendulum by DIR. Elias
Canaan
Caplan

A black shadow which has overcome
an entire nation and has destroyed an
empire, the same ominous shadow that
is felt even here in this great country
ouf ours. The shadow that depresses
and is 80 destructive to human civiliza-
ton. SO inimical to progress. 1t is Boil
ehevism.
The speaker spoke Of the immense
size of Russia, it's great expanse. its
dreary waste OF plains. its scraggly
mountains, it's whole gloomy aspect
which Is instillcd into the minds of the
people. Russia is divided into three
classes, Great Russia, White Russia
and Little Russia. They form group
of 100000 human beings. all held to-
gethcr by the cohesive force of tyranny.
The rulers Of these people. who were
supposed to lead life Of purity ana
chastity, were but profigate sover-
e;gns, mean and debased. grinding the
poorer classes beneath the heel Of op-
preston.
The great men of the nation typify
the vanguard of that nation. The speak
er went on giving examples of the great
poets, literary men and statesmen OF
America. In Russia man could not
write down his ideas in cold print If
his ideas were inimical to the question
able methods Of the government If he
did, it meant exile. prison or death.
The middle class of ANY nation are the
brains of that nation. The tradesmen,
machinists. engineers. professional men,
doctors. lawyers, each in his way spells
progress. Russia's middle class, in ~di-
rect comparison. were not allowed free
dom toward the progress of the country.
The Jews had been in Russia for
three centuries and for a certain ex-
tent made Russia what it was They
were denied the privilege of tilling the
soil, Of farming and reaping harvest
Of their labors. Every branch Of indus
try was closed to their cndeavors ex-
cept the mercantile profession. All this
oppression made a matred for the Gear
in the minds Of the people. A peasant
was considered wealthy who owned two
acres of land. and poor If he owned one
half acre. Eighty per cent. OF the IN
come of the poor Russian peasant was
taken by an income tax and in every
instance the tax was levied on the poor
er classes and not the wealthy class.
In America all classes are taxed in pro-
portion.
In Russia the words "Once pea
sant always a peasant" typtfied the
feeling Of the nobility for the poor
'er classes, and hopelessness marked
the condition and mind Of the peo-
ple. All the schools were open to
the nobility only and not to the la
boring classes which throug ignor-
ance was denied the regih Of educa-
ton.
The Russian soldier was taught
by the whip. lash or imprison-
ment. He was allotted &c per day
or 6oc per month for defending his
country. The love Of country was
not instilled in his mind as in the
other armies Of the world. He en-
tered the service as private and he
left that service as q private, and
all the avenues Of advancement were
closed to him. He endured all this
for the privilege Of serving his coun-
try. A privilege. by the way, that
was not appreciated.
Ten million dollars was set aside
to fortify a city on the outskirts Of
Russia and not a single cent Of this
sum was spent for this purpose, in
stead, it went into the pockets of
grating officials. The graft that
was practiced in Russia by the
corrupt Russian officials was typical
OF the country.
Patriotism in America, as in other
countries, is a national feeling. When
the call comes to defend our coun-
try are we not always ready to
show our love and appreciation Of
our Motherland. But not with the
tussians. Is it any wonder that he
Lated his country and its govern
men, when the last Of oppression
mao driven from him mind all