The New York herald., 1921-08-28

1921.
zhinslSy. who, although Unshliht is the
official head OF the Cheka, is really It's
moving spirit.
Up to the present there is nothing to
show how the ChelSa accepted this blow
or how 1t will react against an effort
to narrow its arbitrary powers. which
have long been beyond the bounds OK
lawfuness or course. the Cheka Will
not give way without a struggle, on the
result OF which will depend all the
future policy of Lenine.
Regarding the general position IN
Soviet Russia in connection with the
new policy the termination OF the civll
war can be clearly felt.
The Soviet Government Is making
various CONCESSIONS and the people are
o gain beginning TO feel the ground under
their feet There is also the growing
belief in the possibility of a change.
Here I might mention that the Rus
sian IS more disposed to view con-
cesslon by the Government as sign OF
weakness instead of a desire to meet
the just requirements Of the people
Very important Russian politicians, not
all reactionaries, point out that II was
the concessions of the late Cars Gov
ernment that led to its downfall. With
out absolutely denying this statement !
would at the same time underline the
fact that the late Czare concessions
first OF all came too late and then did
not meet the demands OF the people In
full or even sufficiently to satisfy part
Of the masses
Parallel with Cars Case.
~ II.
also too late with it's CONCESSIONS. and
as it was bound by the principles OF
Communism it was not possible even to
think about a full satisfaction of the
demands of the people. even while there
was yet time actually to better the sit
uation with food or articles Of prime
necessity. To relieve the dissatisfa ction
of the large masses must therefore be
reckoned an inpossibility, and in this
fact ts hidden the real danger which
will confront every government that sue
ceeds the Bolsheviki.
IT Is interesting to observe how the
dormant political self-consciousness of
the populace is little by little awaken
ing. What Is left does not depend so
much upon this or that particular hap
pening OF however much Importance as
upon inspirations from the new self
organizations Of various groups. espe-
cially the laborers, which recently have
been taking place with renewed energy.
OF course lack of food, which has taken
sharp form. and the starvation OF the
peasants, who until now have had more
or less food. represents serious OBJ
stacle, but, all the same. the conscious
ness that change Is possible and that
the time for experiments Is past is cre-
atlng new opinions the like of which
!, lx,x To-, q,
AS before, the Bolsheviki are not relied
upon, but an opinion has formed itself
that the Bolsheviki are able of them
selves to renounce their former militant
aims.
Union of Parties Probable.
There can be seen an energetic ten
dency for uniting the split long exist
ing, between the proletariat, which by
its convictions Is not Communistic. This
is seen not only among the members of
the so-called "non-party." meaning the
Social Revolutionaries. Mensheviki and
Peoples Minority party. but also among
the workmen. who officially belong to
the Communist party.
The organization of these groups Is
proceeding mainly in the professional So
cieties and is often under the manage
ment or direction of Communist leaders
who last year either retreated to the
secondary positions or absolutely re-
fused to do any more public work, like
R5azanoff. who entirely gave himself up
to his vast work on Marx. Here, we
might mention. Rjazanoff is the best
friend OF the German Scheidemann.
1t must be remembered. however, that,
like everything else in Soviet Russia,
the foregoing process is going on slowly,
In No hot hos
and will move more quickly.
The intellectuals. who had apparently
fallen into an everlasting sleep, are be-
ginning to awake and are receiving new
feelings: but, as before. the peasants
still have feeling OF hostility against
the towns.
The temperament of the Russian peas
ant Is still, as always. an enigma. and
do not wish to fall into the common
error OF people who write about the
peasantry as a whole They differ va St
ly geographically, ethnogra phically, and
have different temperaments in the
north. south. east and west. but I would
direct the attention of the readers OF
THE NEW YORK HERALD to one phase
that Is appearing in the south and in
the frontier districts.
Peasants DodGlng Taxes.
The peasants in these districts aru
doing everything to render impossible
the collection of the natural tax, which
the Soviet authorities are able to col
lect only IN such small amount as to
make 1t of no Importance. while they
are endeavoring to unite themselves in
to professional bodies through which
they hope 10 effect direct change OF
foreign goods. For this purpose they
-.
materials and secreting them in places
inaccessible to the Soviet authorities.
Such unauthorized exchange is already
proceeding on various frontiers OF Soviet