The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-27
SAYS AFFAIRS IN !.
SOVIET RUSSIA
ARE EXCELLENT
French Socialist Finds
Country More "Dry Than
United States.
Religious Freedom Is
Firmly Established
Vigorous Fight Against
Capitalists and Old
Militarists.
Rv Newton q. Parkel

Paris, Sept. 27.-Soviet Russia is
more dry than even the United
States of America with it's prohibition
today by Marcel Cachin, French
Communist leader, who recently re-
turned from a trip to Russia.
M. Cachin denied that religion had
been suppressed by the Moscow gov
eminent.
He said persons were at liberty to
worship in any manner they wished:
1.-THE policy of the Soviet toward
the various churches is inspired by
the traditional idea of Socialism,
which we have affirmed a thousand
times in our meetings and our prop
aganda,'' said M. Cchin.
1.-THE results obtained in the past
three years have been important.
Doubtless the Sociologists are right
when they say that a longer trial is
of experiments in religion, but nu-
merouS signs indicate the wisdom of
the policy of the Workers govern
ment which seems to have found a
practical solution of the problem.
mo special campaign has been
launched in Russia against the relig-
ions which are fighting among them
selves for the souls of the faithful.
However, there has been direct and
vigorous fight against capitalist prof
iteers, against militarists, the poll
ticians, the wealthy people of the mid
die class and the reactionaries.
is the attitude of the new govern
ment-at the same time that the great
domains of the mobiles and expfoiters
of the soil were appropriated for the
profit of the nation the immense be-
longings of the clergy and the lands
possessed by the conventions were
taken over also.
Near Moscow I visited the for
mer magnificent property of the
archbishop of the city. 1t now be-
longs to the Soviet government. In
the prelate's house there has been
established a school for the children.
A school for the children of working
people. 1t extends into the gardens
where the archbishop used to take
his repose. AS to the grounds them
selves they have been converted into
| that furnish 1000 quarts of milk a
day for two big nurseries.
Church property has become pub
lie property and all of the churches,
Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish and Mus
| sulman have been separated from the
state. That is to say the prelates are
no longer recognized by the state as
official representative of cults and
| public treasury. Furthermore, the
vote is denied to the clergymen OF
all religions. Children are vigorously
| excluded from religious influences re-
gardless of it's nature Finally, the
civil marriage is the only one recog-
nized by law.
But not a single church has been
| closed. Churches are as numerous
| in Soviet Russia as they are in any
| other country in the world. In Mos
| COW every morning at an early hour
| the bells are heard calling the wor-
| shippers. In the smaller towns an6
| villages it is the same. Villages OF
| ten thousand inhabitants possess as
| many as sixteen churches. Theil
supmtuous treasures, guarded fol
| centuries, have been respected, after
| first being inventoried for the state.
| GAS for the converts appropriated
| the Sacerdota1 veStmentS the ikons
| and the decorations have been at
| tached to the service of fine arts an(
not a piece has been disturbed or de
| stroyed.
80 long as there are enough be
levers in any cult, its sanctuarie
are permitted to remain open. Th'
religious are permitted to hold public
manifestations in the streets. In GER
| tain factories, for instance, in the
work where rifles are made, the EN-
ployes are permitted to have theil
chapel out of respect for the idea!
of the anti-Bolshevik laDorers.
Russia is a country more dr.
man drinks hardly anything but tea
The French traveller in Russia misse:
his wine, for the Soviets reserve wine
for the sick only. It is not treated
| as an ordinary beverage.
| SAT Moscow, at the Kremlin gate
is sanctuary of the Virgin Mary
that is very we'll known Throughout
| Russia. People used to travel t.
this sanctuary from all parts of tn,
| country. 1t is still open but opposite
to it, the following inscription ha
been cut into a wall with a chise1:
Religion is the opium of the PEG
pie
THAT is characteristic of the atti
tude of the Russian revolutionary"