New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Bolshevism's Future

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have lasted so long, and now seem
naoee firmly intrenched where they
coutrol than ever before.
But that the two adventures have
not fallen is not surprising. Under
the circumstances their persistence
was 10 be expected. The Bolshevist
regime, 80 far as Central Russia is
concerned, has been in little danger
since It executed it's coup d'6tat. A
palace revolution might substitute
new tyrants, but the Communist
party Of Russia, as it calls itself, has
been . good risk.
Before the revolution the party
consisted Of an organized group-its
members accustomed to obey orders
from above-of about $4,000. Dur
ing Kerensky's time it recruited up
to about 100000. This was enough,
provided there was ruthlessness and
= successful seizure Of the weapon
supply. Kerensky, an idealist and
non-resister, believed he could gov
ern by argument and persuasion.
Lenine, a realist, held that the way
to rule Russia was by force, and his
Judgment was vindicated.
Once in command Of the key points
and Of the stock of weapons and the
munition plants, the Central Rus
SLAMS had no chance. A small army
can control a country if there is no
other army. Civilian opinion counts
for nothing. The Bolshevists easily
stifed insurrection. Trotzky, of
course, saw to it that the Red Guard
was recruited so he could trust it.
If unarmed New York, as we are
told, could be mastered by 10000
armed men, it is not strange Petro-
grad was seized by about 1900. A
concourse Of civilians vainly pro-
tests to machine guns.
It will be noted that the Bol-
shevists control practically no parts
Of former Russia which are in physi-
cal contact with the outside world,
and thus able to get arms. Finland,
Esthonia, Lettonia, Lithuania, Po-
land, the Ukraine, Georgia, Erivan
and Azurbaijan are non-Bolshevist.
The populations of these border
lands have liberty because able to de-
fend themselves. Bolshevism does not
exist except where it has a monopoly
Of power. AS long as it has this
monopoly 1t is likely, in name at
least, to endure.
Another striking fact showing how
Bolshevism rests on the militarism
Of a minority was the success OF
Denikine and Kolchak until the
Allies suddenly ceased to send in
military supplies. Of course, the
munitioned Reds then found ii
easy to overcome the unmunitioned
Whites. Bolshevism exists in Cen.
tral Russia because the western
democracies were unwilling to fur.
nish Russian civilians materials with
which to fight.
Lenine, with respect to his own in.
terest, has not shown himself a fool
He knows his communistic system
has broken down. He now recog.
nizes the ownership of private prop.
erty, promises to protect capital
permits what he once denounced as
wage slavery, appoints the officers Of
his army and gives them right to
iniict the death penalty, and tc
stimulate production offers fat con.
csssions to exploiters. But he still
possesses political power. This is
sweet to him, as to every othe,
dsspot. So he tenders peace and
psomises to be good. Fear haunts
hmm that his moujiks viii In the end
81 arms. He may not be a military
.eratesist, but he is aware that Tho
cutting OF the principal Central Rus
man railroad system In two or thru.
pisces will topple his edifice. Never
theless no hopes to keep himself anf
nis Tammany organization In pover
war-weary world has been 80 auc
cessfully confused as to be unwillin,
to proceed against him.
Barring palace revolution. Lenin,
probably will hang on, and az Napo
leon changed himself from Consu
into Emperor, he may yet b,
crowned IN the Kremlin-perhap.
not under the title of car, but, say
as Hetman Of Muscovy. Bolshevism
csasing to be socialistic, would then
become a regime not unlike the one
under which Pharaoh worked the
ancient Egyptians, or = form Of
feudalism under which local soviet