The Carlisle independent., 1920-08-19
A DESPERATE GAMBLE

An American who has just returned from Russia answers in an apparently satisfactory manner the general inter- rogatory as to why the people of that country supinely accept the dictator ship of the Lenine- Trotzky outfit that has brought nothing but bloodshed, suffering and ruin to their country. He said that the country had been lulled into a state of coma by the propo-s ganda of the Bolshevik agitators. In- stead of the classes being alertly con- scious the people have lost both indi- vidual and class consciousness. They believe that the whole world either has gone over to the Bolshevists or would soon do so and for this reason they were offering no resistance. Be- ing pitifully illiterate, strangely ideal istic and naturally fatalistic, they ac- cepted the miserable state of being that had been created for them. This investigator was convinced that there would be no revolt against the Lenine regime until some striking event or some infiltration of knowledge of the true facts had rid the people of their deluSion.
 We have heard for some time that the peasants of Russia were opposed to Bolshevism, but that they either cared not to or dared not to oppose it. For this reason, then, there is hope for Russia. Secretary Colby in his recent statement discriminating between the present Russia rulers and the Russian people showed that Amer ican officials were by no means de- spondent over the situation. They still hope for the day of Russian dis illusionment. Other instances have come to light which indicate that even the Lenine crowd does not consider the tenure of authority as being perma- nent. Figuratively, the Leninites seem to be sleeping in their clothes ready for the signal to make their getaway. Therefore, the present attack of the Bolshevists upon Poland seems to be as much of gamble as the desperate lunge Ludendorff and Hindenburg took against the world in March, 1918. The German militarists played to win or lose all and the Leninites, with the transport system of Russia paralyzed and another terrible winter approach ing, seem to be playing the same sort of a game. Of course it is possible that the Bolshevists may overrun Po- land and that they may even form some sort of alliance with Germany, which country would resort to almost any desperate means to escape her treaty obligations. But would not such an alliance be a most incongru ous combination, and would it prove workable in practice?
 In the first place, we must consider whether Ludendorff, Hindenburg ct al. would accept an army organization based on the Bolshevik system of dis cipline. Could the iron handed Ger man plan of conducting an army and the fiabby Russian system coaleSce Would the German commanders lead an army that elected it's own officers Furthermore, the Germans are an edu- cated people and they have a taste of Bolshevism in the Spartacist upris- ings in their own country. Would they accept certain destruction of all their hopes and aspirations in order to es- cape burden that might be galling now but that would be lifted in genera tion or SO? To say they would be is to say that they already are poisoned with the Bolshevik virus.
 
 over threats of British workingmen to resist an armed war on the Russian soveit government. As a matter of fact Great Britian has no present pur- pose of sending large military ex- petition into Russia. What Britian the United States and France can do is to wage an economic war against Russia, and this, considering the pres ent status of Russia, ought to be the most effective in the long run. Fur thermore, the Bolshevists among the workmen of Britian and France could not interfere effectively with such 8 campaign even should they desire to do so.
 Naturally the situation is by no means rosy, but it does not justify any rocking of the boat. Because Russia is governed by brutal and conscience less minority and because her people submit to it is no reason why the rest | of the world should fear the same un-