Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-07-17
snail Chaos or Reconstruction
IN Europe Follow the Great
World War;
B0LSHEVIKS FETTER LIBERTY
ineorIes Leaders of the Movement
LAY Down and Put Into Practice.
Fly in the Face Of All Hu.
man Experience.
Article XIII.
BY FRANK coMERFoRp


nun" me times. We still cling to the
oid superstition that the people
Shoaid be the sovereignS, that public
OHlclals are public servants. that the
sHfeSt plan of government is that
form OF government which is nearest
TO the people. In the United States
each citizen has one vote. He has a
vote Tor the men who make the local
laws. the city or village ordinances.
vote for the man who enforcps the
ordinances, the mayor; q vote for the
representatives in the state Legislature
where the laws are made. fnr the
governor, who enfOrces the state laws
vote for the congressman and SEN
htors who enact the national laws and
formulate the national policies a vote
Tor the president, who carries out the
supreme law of the land While il is
true That in the case of the president.
we vote for electors who elect the
president there has not been a single
case wherein an electOr has voted
other than he was instructed by the
people. We come together in political
patleS, present platforms, and every
c1tten has a chance to register his
opinion of men and measures The
citizen has a right 10 vote at primary
elections and register his choice for
the party candidates and for the dele
gates to the conventions which fornu-
late the party platforms.
BoIsheVik Argument Unsound.
The bolsheyiks point our that politi-
cal parties do not live up to their
platforms; that candidates for office
default in their promises after they
are elected; that representative de-
mocracy is frequently not representa-
tive of and responsive TO the people
We know that there is some truth in
this criticism. but We know that 1t is
our fault. We have the power to ex-
press our wants, to record our will.
We also have the power to punish our
betrayal We can recall from office
recreant public servants; we can add
to our legislation and take over the
power to initiate laws. and compel the
reference of legislation hack TO the
people before it can become operative
as law. Our public officials are only
our agents; we hire them, we pay
them; we can fire them, disgrace them
and punish them if they fail to obey |
our instructions. Such is our power. |
IL We. do not use the power intelli- |
gently and effectively ii is our fault. |
If we are Indifferent to the rights we |
possess and fail to use them, the fault |
Is with us. Therefore, we do not con- |
denim system of representative gov
eminent because some of the individ- |
uals who make up the government are !
unfit and unworthy of the rights they
enjoy.
The boisheviks appear 70 favor a
change in the method Of governing !
the people. The plan they have adopt |
ed is based on the theory that the !
people must not be trusted, but that |
the 0fficeh0lderS can. B0lshevism is |
government from the top down, rather !
than from the bottom up. They seem
to go on the theory that power dele |
gated through many hands will lose |
its corruption just as running water |
does. This political theory flies ia the |
face of all human experience.
BoIshevist Joker"
In our numbers we have figure |
which for many years has enjoyed a |
peculiar reputation; IT is the Jester" !
of numbers. 1t is the number "23." |
Il In ola
"skidd0o" The b0lsheviks inserted in |
the constitution a joker, and oddly !
enough they gave it the "skiddoo" |
number, "23." 1t is found in Article 2 !
of the constitution:
Being guided by the interest of the |
working class as whole, the Rus !
sian Socialist Federal Soviet Repub- |
lie deprives all individuals and groups |
of all rights which could be utilized |
by them TO the detriment of the So
cialist revolution"
Here is the big beware sign in the
constitution. What does it mean;
what fears must come into the minds |
of men and women in Russia when
they read this paragraph? The con-
Stitution depriyes every one, indiyid-
ually and collectively. of exercising |
any rights he or they may have which
are opposed to bolshevism. Did tyr
amy ever impose a more arbitrary,
autocratic ukase? The paragraph con-
cedes that individuals and groups have
rights, and then commands the people
not ia dare use those rights. If their
exercise might he detrimental to the
ieu.uc-TrutSky government The right
10 voice thoughts is sentenced tn ST
tence. Freedom Of opinion is crushed.
Who is TO determine what rights, if
exercised, might be detrimental to a
socialist revolutlon7 The meaning is
rs plain as the command is stern. Fall
in line with bolshevism or perish, is
the order. II you disagree with our
plans and methods, BE seen but not
heard"