Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-25
WHO is A BOLSHEVIK?

A business man Of this city recently declared the
Journal bolshevik. This gentleman is good hus-
band and father, fine provder for those depend
ent upon him. loyal friend to those whom he loves
a respectable and respected citizen and one wh'
lives up to his ideals of his duty,
The Journal, too. tries to live up to the highest
ideals. Where, then, comes the occasion for this
man to denominate us as ltra-radical? He was
not angry; he stated the situation saw it.
This man believes that the people whole
are incapable of selfgovernment. He believes that
the Intelligent" few must keep such ascendancy
over the rest of us that the Ignorant can be
guided by the wise" This is his philosophy OF
government Alexander Hamilton frankly avowel
such view.
The Journal fails to agree with this mans men,
tai processes. Kings and aristocras have enter
tanned this viewpoint for centuries. With the power
in their hands it has been abused invariably. The
theory is very fine In practice, the power once
gained used for personal ends instead of the pub
uic good. Special privilege is this philosophy, bear
ing its unvarying and inevitable fruit,
Thomas jefferson and Abraham Lincoln be.
lieved in a government "of the people, by the peo
pie and for the people" They believed this COM
pletely and sincerely. They knew that lack of edu-
cation would lead the people wrong at times and
compel them to retrace their steps to correct errors
But they believed that the remedy lay in general
education and enlightenment, and not in taking the
power away from the people. With their views on
this subject the Journal is in agreement
Few be given power without abusing It,
Only by retaining the power to punish the use of
public position for personal advantage the PEG
pie be protected against imposition.
Our government is devoted to ideal of equality,
justice and humanity. But In practice, when the
few gain an ascendancy these ideals go into eclipse.
Men seek and take special advantages which de-
prve the people of equality of opportunity, substi-
tute rank injustice for justice and, in cold selfish
ness. forget ideals of humanity,
These inequalities injustices and inhumanities
the Journal attacks in effort to restore the
equilibrium. But these attacks disturb the private
snaps which this and his friends have estab-
shed. II we would destroy the system of tax
evasion, or the unconscionable coal combine, we
destroying established institutions" according to the
view of this friend. The enemy of special privilege
is the enemy of the government, is his conclusion,
whereas the exact reverse is true.
These inequalities. njustices and inhumanities
must be stopped, If the institutions love to
survive
The people will love government which actu-
ally affords them equality of opportunity, just and
humane treatment. They will be contented and
happy. But inequalities exasperate them; inJusce'
anger them, and inhumanities make them openly
hostile
1t is the man who grabs a special advantage to
the harm of the people. who angers men into
canning q government winch VIII permit IT, Eut-
ting the man in Jail may may not be necessary
a quarantine against infection of his ideas. but
1t is 1t does not reach the which sent
this deluded a rampage.
The Snan who will seize and hold special priv
ilege is the real criminal He is the vioator of the
spirit IL not the letter, of the law He is the cause
of the outbreak of those whose exasperatons be-
come too intense for frail humanity to endure.
Because the Journal sees that the cure for radi-
calism is contented people and therefore attacks
those having special privileges and special advan-
tages to which they not entitled and which re-
suit in inequalities and injustices, our good frienl
calls a bolshevik. We disturb the "cinches" OF
himself and his friends.
No has single radical word IN
the Journal. We believe in both the letter and the
spirit of the constitution We believe 1t offers hu-
mainly its greatest opportunity for happiness. But
the fight can never cease to maintain the spirit OF
Thu great Magma Charta of liberty. Special abuses
of its spirit must be assailed always If would
preserve it.
If our critic is not bolshevik he and his friends
who do things to make people angry at their gov
eminent are the makers of bolsheviki.