The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-01-12

LEGATION of an article in these columns
relating to the release from prison of
Eugene V. Debs, we received "A
marked copy of Flint daily news
paper with a request noted thereon
that we read particular articles to
which our attention was directed.
We did so and were Immediately able
to discover that our unknown friend
who sent the paper proposed to bor-
row the editorials he cited to prove
that we had been very much deceived
by the public press with regard 10
conditions in Russia and that we were
mistaken in our premises with regard
to Mr.. Debs and the principles he adj
vocates. We cannot, as a matter of
course, copy the column. or more of
matter to which our attention was
directed, nor would it serve any use
full purpose to do so, because with
many of the statements contained
therein we could cordially agree, but
with the deductions that our friend
seems to have drawn from them we
just as certainly disagree. Briefly,
ance of the statements contained in
our own editorial. Firstly, let us say
that so far as we know not one per-
son of recognized intellectual stand,
ing in any civilized nation on earth,
having visited Russia, has come back
to civilization with a favorable re-
port on the soviet form of govern
-, l.
of the most scholarly of the English
socialists, having visited that country
and witnessed the workings of its
visionary and impractical govern
ment, is said to have characterized it
as "the damnedest government on
earth" We have no knowledge that
he has ever denied the authenticity of
the statement. Our friend must
either believe in popular rule or in
the rule of the minority. If in the
latter, he is an advocate Of tyranny
and we want to call his attention to
the fact that no popular elective ex-
preston of the entire Russian people,
free from tyrannical supervision, has
been had since the soviet despotism
superseded the imperial despotism.
1t will not be denied that Russia to-
day is ruled by class and that class
the least experienced in industrial
and political organization, qualifica-
tions which above all else are essen
tial to the success of the socalistic
state. Let US interject the statement
that we ourselves are somewhat |
socialistic; the inevitable trend of !
human affairs is in that direction,
but we want it to come as a matter
Of evolution and education rather
than as result of reversion to bar
Darity. Secondly, the very fact that |
The press Of the civilized world has |
repudiated Bolshevism, is to our mind I
proof that it is deserving of repudia-
ion. The press of the world consti-
.utes a great world court, the best |
and most intelligent in the |
world, and taking it by and large,
t is seldom far from right in the
consensus Of its opinion. Third, with
.egard to the crimes Of the Bolshe-
Xix government: We cannot prove |
hem, but we saw, not long ago, a
statement that the Russian govern
nent had admitted some thousands
# executions for political offenses,
md we know that it took an Ameri-
IAN writer, a lady at that, year and
half to make her escape from that
and Of the free because it was afraid
he would publish the impressions she
lad gained. How long would gov
'rnment of that kind last in "pluto-
ratio" America? Not month.
Why, they shoot men in Russia, COM
monty, for less opposition to the gov
rnment than Mr.. Debs offered and
or which he received a prison SEN
ence, with the result that he was
inally restored to liberty without re-
raction of the principles he had ad.
'ocated. Further than this, Mr..
)ebs advocates the release of all the
onvicts in all of the Federal prisons
gho were incarcerated for offenses
gainst the government. The trouble
nth the average objector to the
american government is that he
nows very little, either actually or