Evening star., 1921-08-13
Editorial Digest
Bread and Bolshevism.


Now that Russia has accepted the
terms laid down by Hoover and relief
is assured for her starving millions,
hints from Europe, reflected in some
American newspapers, have come from
various sources to the effect that the
powers are about to make a new
drive" with bread instead of bullets
against bolshevism. While noAmerican
writer's impugn such a motive to Mr..
Hoover's unofficial efforts, here and
there are suggestions that during the
ideas" may be served along with the
nourishing meals that are to be pro-
vided. The idea finds both support
and opposition among the newspa-
pers, but most of the comment ig-
nores this phase of the question and
simply points out our duty to allie.
viate the suffering which Is looked
upon as the result of soviet rule ana
an example of its dangers.
| The Schenectady Gazette (demo.
would be contrary to the ethics of
international politics to- undermine
the government of any country" 1t
adds that "it is due to their willing,
ness to follow blindly that has LED
the mass Of Russians ,,..,o INTO .dncar tns,r
ton might set them on the right
track" No change in government
can be expected immediately. the
New Haven Journal-Courier unoe-
PENDENT heiieyes ve eqs Them a FOODS asss safe
guard it's distribution. It Will save
life" And. it concludes, "it will pro-
mote thought"
Both Europe and America. says the
Portland Oregonian dndependent re-
Russian idea, if not the Russian peas,
ant" But it declares: 1T would
seem to the bystander that the duty
of saving Russia, from starvation as
from political peril, devolyes not on
America, but on Europe. We do not
bubble. We did not seek the Tole o.
Samaritan to all and sundry. 1t was
forced upon US four years ago. ana
America took it up right gladly
The New York Times dndependent
democratic) thinks that we should
ignore the unreasonable but inteil.
gible position taken by the nominal
rulers of Russia" and proceed with
relief measures, leaving the large
political results to be worked out by
the new forces which have been let
loose"
This viewpoint the Johnstown Demo-
crat tdemocratic) interprets as mean mean
to starving Russia in the hope that
the charity given will prove means
of unhorsing the soviet government.
1t continues: Capitalism is making
a play for Russia. There Is akchance
that the holders of Russian securities
may yet get their money. If the old
czarist crowd can go back to Russia
at the head of the bread line. 1t Will
simply be swept back into power. But
anything that can be swept in can be
swept out. The wise course would be
to offer charity that had no Interior
motives. Charity that Is part OF a
political scheme will lead to trouble" :"
If this assumption Is correct, that
the Russians be given choice OF the
acceptance of a more orthodox pontlcal
creed or starvation" the New York
World (democratic) believes that no
| more cold-hearted or cynical sugges-
tory of the injustice" to Russia. I'm
less the war has destroyed every trace
of humanity and sympathy in the more
prosperous countries" says the world,
they will offer assistance without de-
! manding a price" 1t would be far
better" saws the Hartford Times
| (democratic), ito feed the starving. to
aid the helpless, and let Russia work
! out it's own destiny
The New York Globe independently
| takes a different but sympathetic
| view. declaring that "bolshevism seems
I
this emergency it will be Of the worlds
! charity, not of the worlds hate" A
similar view is taken by the Wichita
| Eagle independently. which laments
| the fact that this country has been
somewhat slow" toward offering aid
| to Russia, but adds that international
| ill-will would be covered up by inter.
| national charity, which is capable OF
covering such a multitude Of fll-wfll."
| The Boston Herald independent re-
| publican) commends steps taken by
| this country, as well as Britain and
France, and concludes that "aI three
can we'll afford to ignore the ungra-
cious fencing of bolshevism and join
| whole-heartedly in the work OF relief
Food is what Russia needs now.
tersely comments the Syracuse Her
aid GndependenD; "let the dipio.
matte adjustments come afterward. "
| And the Winston Salem Journal
| (democratic) remarks, The call OF
Russia sounds the duty of mankind
! A great many writers. however,
confine their comment to tracing the
blame for famine and pestilence to
the vicious methods Of the Lenin gov
ernment THE tragic fate of Rus
sia," says the Chicago Tribune Unde-
pendent republican,. "is the direct
result Of the in2iuity of the men IN
control Of Russian affairs under the
| tial machinery of organized society in
motion" This is likewise the opinion
| of the Pittsburgh Gazette-Times (re-
publican), which considers the situa.
ii on "the logical sequence OF events,
and the Memphis Commercial-App
1.-The Lenin regime" not only has done
the harm the present situation illus
trates, but has failed utterly to
bring to Russia one single benefit"