The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-03-09
GORKY DISAPPOINTED

Maxim Gorky. the Russian novelist
and radical agitator. who was ono Of
the ticrccst foes Of tn" o'd-tjmc bureau
cracy. expresses bitter disappointment
with Bo!shcviSm. In an article recently
published Gorky said:
The revolution has not been followed
by any SpirIluIl revival. and has proved
itself unable 10 make me- re honest.
Men IN power now arc lust as brutal as
thuSe IN authority under the imperial
regime. and send as many men 10
prison. HulShcvik leaders, driven b.
ambition. ar" performing experiments
upon living people. especially the work
ing classes"
Most Of the RUSSIAN idcalistS. who
sincerely expected and Improvement in
moral and industrial conditions from
the overthrow OF the monarchy and tho
lat"r developments of tho Russian rcvo-
luton. hay" been forced 10 confess
heir disappointment. The small rcla-
jly"ly cultured classes Of Russia were
r'vulutloulStS almost to man. but
their ideal was nb5 raj democracy. a
r"puhii" in which alt clements cs soc-
"ty would b" represented. a SELF govern
ing political Unit. modelled after the
form 90 the American state. But the
revolution IN Russia long since got out
Of the hands Of men like Gorky. Prince
Lvof kercusiiy and. their associates
Like every other revolution in which at
first liberal and moderate men toln, tho
radicals have taken tho lead and taken
power. Lcn!uc. Trotzky and their as
s"v!at"S ar" forced each day by the ne
,.Ssity Of heir position 70 Z" farther
and farther and TO become more and
more radical. Russia today is not a
democracy IN any sense. Il is terror
ism. the terrorism Of Il minority. which
has seized power. knows itsolf to he in
danger Of destruction and therefore
does uot hesitate A. any crime TO defend
and protect itself. The Russian terror
ism Will last until the masses OF the
Russian peoTl" determine 10 throw II
oft. uu5H Sumc new leader in whom the
pcupIr have confidence gathers around
him sufficient force 70 break up the
BoshcvIk and 10 restore 4 government
Of The entire people. Den.kine and
kolchak failed because the majority OF
the Russians did not trust them. They
associated with themselves clements Of
the old Carbon. and fear OF the res
toration Of the autocracy kept millions
"f h" Russian peasantry loyal 10 the
Soy ct state.
No stat" can endure permanently
without recognition of the political
rights oc the educated. cultured. enter
priaiuS and substantial classes. which
IN ordinary times constitutes the best
citiz, uskip or any community. Today
all &C thoI" classes are under the ban
IN Russia. Political power rests with
and * exercised by tho workers with
their hands or by those who pretend to
work with their hands. The priest OF
the church, the learned doctor. the
stuGious lawyer the cntcrprtsinG MGR
chant. the successful manufacturer.
have been reduced to political scrvitudc
and denied every right of citizenship
russia j. 4 vast country with a tccm-
INK population that has been held for
centuries n darE"at ignorance. The
process Of regeneration will be slow,
but even RussIa's ignorant millions
viii eventually learn tho sure ruin that
VIII come from the continuance Of the
Soviet state.