Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-18
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER Is. 1920.
The Mystery of Russia.

In the absence OF reliable information as
a. .c,,aI conditions in Russia, the rest OF
che world must wonder at the success tliA'
hs. attended the armies OF the SOVIET
government. We hear many stories Oh
suffering and destitution, and OF savage
opprr-aon Of the people by the soviet
oiisarchy, for that Is what II appears to the
outside world, yet its armies are victorious
m maintaining Soviet rule. Compelled oy
.hl. assistance extended by the French TO
-ettlc their war with Poland. just on the
eve Of apparent victory, the Soviet armies
h.x. INST succeeded in crushing the army
n General Baron Wrangle, driving nun
from his final stand in the Crlmea, ana
establishing almost undisputed Soviet rule
throughout Russia.
The mystery is how such government
apparently supported only by autocra'ic
military force az home, and unaided oy
friendly recognition from any outsiue
Governments. could ~ successfully wage
military campaign. To do this 1t was neceS-
s,rv 10 maintain and equip large armies,
and % do those thirgs that are essential TO
the naint tenance Of that morale among
fshting forces without which no nation
an showed Vet the fragmentary m
formation We receive az times from in
rr-nal Ru~-ia I. not Of character 20 re-
v--I the secret az the undoubtcd success Of
these Soviet military operations, and Of
The moral support the Soviet government
must receive from the Russian people IN
order 70 make such aresult possible
More and more is this Bolshevik up
h-.v.i IN Russia counterpart q 'he
Great French Revolution, which began 50
<srr,nas-ify in lTse, from an assembiage oi
De ,ne;en. State. General at Versailles
% consider the critical financial condition
a the French monarchy. That revolution,
started blythe representatives OF the people
soon increased into an overthrow OF the
monarchy and the establishment q
Rrpublic. The process Of reversal was ac-
on-nranicd by shocking excesses, and the
Reign Of Terror drew upon its hendlsh
rc-p~trators the wrath and horror OF al
the rest Of the world. Outside Europe set
its face aSAinst this new France and against
the aspirations Of its people for popular
rovrnrnent. Even it's success. although
eyrntusIly II secured grudging recognition
from some other nations, who were at least
irnres-ed with the power Of the Republi-
ran arrnie. Of France, failed 70 dlssipate
The general distrust, the inslstent opposl-
tion 20 the overthrow Of an hereditary
monarchy, although by sn oppressed and
outraged people Even the giories OF the
French Empire built up by the genius and
power OF Napoleon made no impress
rIuon the irnplacable hatred OF monarchlai
Eurppe. and IN the end the Republican
Empire Of the French peop lie fell ID runs
md Bourbon Kings ruled once more IN
France
But u the outside world, no such
foundation Of real patriotism and sspTa-
tioD. for popular government as upheld
the structure of the French Revolution
and brought Il 20 g successful conclusion,
despite the awful excesses and horrors that
marked its progress, are apparent III the
Russian situation q. II. exists today.
Public sentiment throughout Europe and
N our own country repudiates the Soviet
reign in Ruzns as mOnarehlal sentiment
II Europe more than century ago hated
the temporary triumph of popular govern
raens in France. Yet Soviet rule in Russia
lives and is fighting battles with its enc
nies az home and vanquishing them IN
turn, until today It Is seemingly trlurn-
phant.
Thi. is what the outside world sees iu
Russia; but why such condition should
prevail is a mystery.