The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-06-30

cnly correspondents and observers
thus far admitted by the Bolshevist
authorities are individuals whose Gre
dentials come under one of three
heads. They must either O be
avowed sympathizers with Bolshe-
vism; (2) be absolutely ignorant OF
the Russian language and of Russian
life; or (3) submit to being isolated
and put in close charge of a Bolshe-
visit Commissar. 1t was under such
conditions that Mr.. Goode and "Lord'
Lansbury made their favorable but
blindfold studies of the 3eviec re-
gime.
A witness of a different sort re-
Gently came out of Russia. He is the
Rev. F. w. North, British Chaplain
at Moscow during the revoiution and
the terror. Having lived IN Russia
for ten years, he is in a position to
understand as we'll as to interpret the
events which have passed before his
eyes. In The Morning Post OF London
he has been writing series of arti-
cles, in which, without heat or preJu-
dice, he makes recital of what he has
seen and heard, and traces intelli-
gently the developments in Russia
since the downfall of the Car Ore
striking fact for which he vouches is
that the power really in control in
Russia today is an inner circle OF the
All-Russia Extraordinary Committee.
By this body, virtually secret pc
Ice, made up in good part of Let's
and Poles is exercised the power Of
confiscation of property and, in ef-
feet, the power of life and death over
individuals. It's nature and activities
recall those of the Tribunals in
France of the Revolution, which Of
ten were more powerful and deadly
than the nominal leaders Of the Ma
tional assembly.
Mr.. North asserts that this Rus
sian "Collegia" frequently asserts it
self against. both Lenin and Trotzky.
Its head is a man named Derjinsky.
"He and his satellites" aftirms Mr..
North, "can arrest any one, condemn
"any cne, execute any one without
trial; "and in the midst of the gener-
al chaos "and destitution it is this
power which governs.
The Rev. Mir. North confirms the
accounts which others have given Of
the extreme Of misery which the Bol-
sheviki have brought upon Rnssis.
Millions of the population lie pros
trate and despairing. The peasants
on the land manage better than most
to keep soul and body together, but
they, too, live in dread Of confisca-
tory DEGREES from Moscow. For time
the peasants were allowed to keep
for their own use forty pounds Of
grain a month per capita. The rest
had to be "sold" to the Soviet Gov
ernment at a fixed price in paper
money-which had no fixed value.
The inevitable result was that the
peasants raised no more grain than
they themselves consumed, or hid the
surplus. To meet this strange un-
willingness to share in the blessings
of the Bolshevist millennium, Lenin
recently issued a decree stating that
whereas the peasants had made no
sacrifices for the Revolution. and the
time had come for them to do so
their allowance OF grain would here
after be cut from forty to eighteen
pounds a month, The effecy of this,
as stimulus to grow a large crop
may easily be imagined.
On the whole question of possible
trade with Russia, Mr.. North has some
suggestive statements. Passing by
the articles of gold and platinum and,
possibly, flax, he doubts II the Rus
slams have at present any surplus
with which to pay for the imports
they so greatly need and desire. He
is positive that those vast stores Of
grain, ready to be shipped out of Rus