Evening journal., 1921-09-28

for active work. Many leaders of
the Constitutional-D party
have been executed during the past
years, and yet such leaders as r. A.
Golovin, former president OF the
Second Duma; N. M. Xishkin, for
mer member Of the provisional gov
ernment, and ~ N. Kutler, former
minister OF agriculture, have man
aged to survive with their spirits
unbroken. The same may be said
about the leaders Of the Russian CO.
operative movement. The Bolshe-
wiki have done everything to break
this movement and to destroy its
leaders, and nevertheless such peo-
pie as Prokopovich, Kuskova, Koro-
boff and others have managed to
survive. As soon as the sinister
power Of Bolshevism goes down,
leaders will appear. strengthened by
the catastrophe years through which
they have lived in direst privation,
together with the Russian masses.
The masses, taught the fundamental
problems Of statehood through bit
ter experience will trust them and
follow them, and the rapidity of
Russia's resurrection may astonksh
the world as much, or probably even
more, than the speed Of her down
fall and disintegration.
Thus, neither a return to the old
regime, nor a further perpetuation
Of anarchy that would threaten to
destroy the nation, are possible in
Russia after the downfall of Boil
shevism. The disappearance OF the
Bolshevist rule will mark the be-
ginning of Russia's convalescence,
which is possible only under insti-
tuions Of political democracy. The
Russian peasantry-S5 per cent. OF
Russia's population-will be the
basis of the economic and political
structure OF future Russia. The
peasants, recognizing themselves as
the handspring of Russia's existence
want not only to retain the land,
but also to rule the land An au-
tocratic rule would be a rule over
the peasantry. A democratic rule
would be a rule Of the Deasantry
The peasants understand this. and
therefore they are for a democratic
rule. 1t was their opposition that
destroyed the Kolchak and Deni-
kline movements as soon as reac-
tionary tendencies gained the upper
hand in these movements, and now
1t is also their opposition that is un-
dermining the red autocracy of Boil
shevism. Addressing the Tenth Con
gress of the Communist party, Len
inc said, according TO the Official
Bolshevist "Pravda" OF March 10.
1921, that 1.-The, relations between
US (Bolsheviki) and the peasantry
are not what we had believed them
TO be-" and added that these rela-
tions represent a peril many times
greater than all the perils threat
ened by the Denikine, Kolchak and
Yudenitch campaigns put together" p"
The peasants opposition TO Boil
shevism and reaction makes for q
democracy in Russia. Another fac
tor, the existence of complicated ma
tional problems in Russia, points 60
a federated democracy as the only
possible structure OF the future Rus
sian state. The separatist move
ments in Russia are OF very recent
origin. They did not exist before
the revolution, from March to No
vember, 1917, /. e., up TO the mo-
ment OF the Bolshevist coup d. etat
The formation Of independent border
states was due not to the national
aspirations of the peoples compris-
ing these states, but to the fact thai
Bolshevism took possession of the
center OF the Russian state, and these
peoples naturally could not consider
themselves longer bound to this cen
ter. Foreign intrigue on the part
OF some powers interested in Rus
sia's disintegration also contributed
greatly to this situation.
Future democratic Russia Is not
inspired by any imperialistic aims
toward these peoples. The progress
sive forces OF Russia have alwavs
respected and defended their ma
/ tional aspirations. As soon as Cen
tral Russia is re-esta blished. she will
propose a federal union to the now
Independent border states, and both
the strong economic factors that
make them dependent on Russia and
the absence of any real political OF
cultural reason for complete separa
ton, will make them accept a fed
eral union with Russia that will
guarantee them all the freedom OF
their national development. and al
the same time will make them mem.
bers Of a powerful democratic com
monwealth. The idea of federalism
is becoming more and more popular
not only among the progressive
leaders Of the Russian nationality
but among the leaders of the border
nationaliues as we'll The tern
United States Of Russia" is being
mentioned more and more often
All these developments tend to show
that the time Is not far off wher
the world will see Russia resurrecte,
as a democratic federated state, bull
upon principles similar to those o
this great country.