The Washington herald., 1922-11-11
Hope for Russia.

il years nave gone Dy since tne 1eVoution
The soldiers; the workmen and the peasants
celebrating their victory
Some cynical folks, in the United States and
elsewhere, will observe that poor, ragged Ivan
hasn't got much which to be ubilant. In
many respects his condition is than it
when the horsewhips of that bigoted Nero the late
Tar, cracked across his back. He hasn't much
to eat, a general rule He still is prosecuted.
The business and industry of his country have gone
to ruin An impossible political and economic
system has been set up-a system very little bet
ter, in many respects from the which Ivan
overthrew.
But in his destitution the Russian has
some reason to be thankful and reason to cele-
brate. He has exchanged, hope a permanent
evil for temporary evil. He has done away
forever with the most notorious. stronghold of
hereditary tyranny that Gods fell upon.
Even If the present regime lasts for two
centuries he has gained something. The Boil
shevist regime is, without doubt, evil thing.
Ii will be we'll to wipe it off the earth as soon
something better can be substituted. But, from
some points of view, the present government of
Russia is a superior institution to the it
placed.
1t is superior in this respect-and the
difference is that between sunrise and midnight,
between he'll and heaven. In the old Russia the
that his would be born peasant and that his
grandson would be born a peasant. If he was
village blacksmith he knew that his would be
village blacksmith and his grandson would be
village blacksmith. He knew that the Of
gentleman would be gentleman and until
the day of judgment. He submitted dumbly
patiently, hopelessly.
In the new Russia every boy and every girl
born is potentially lady gentleman.
The of the village blacksmith may be-
come premier of all Russia. The son of the be-
whiskered old hack driver may become chief OF
police OF Petrograd. The boy from the mud hut
OF the peasant may become general-in-chief of the
armies.
Eventually the nation will get rid OF the bad
features OF Bolshevism 1t will get rid OF the
un-economical economic system. Its transporta-
ton will be restored. Its factories will be re-
built. Its machinery will hum again. Men
honest and less inclined to tyranny will replace
the gentlemen in power at Moscow.
But the new Russia will retain the one great
blessing which God and the Bolshevists have be-
slowed upon it-the freedom from hereditary
classes, the right of the blacksmith's son to be-
come premier if he has the ability, the right OF
the carpenters to become crooked lawyer
or a quack doctor if his ncnations run in such
channels.
street in Petrograd ten years ago to shoot the
medaled potentate who sped down the thorough
fare in shining automobile. The same nclina-
ton would to the average resident of Wash
ington today if he placed in the cir
cumstances. Very few Americans, if they had
been born in Russian peasant homes before the
war, would not have been Nihists. The average
the street i'll Petrograd ten years ago
knew that he himself had opportunity whatso-
OF riding down the thoroughfare in shining
automobile. He knew that his had chance.
Fl; knew that his grandson had chance. But
he knew that the OF the in the would
succeed his fathers opportunities. Hence he
could feel only blind hatred for the potentate-a
hatred which would impel him to draw his re-
volver and fire. He would be prevented from .ths
act only by the instinct of sef-preservation-fea
OF the police.
The average Washingtonian doesn't desire to
shoot when millionaire's automobile passes. He
knows that he himself has an opportunity of be-
coming a millionaire. He hopes that his son and
his grandson become millionaires. There is no
rigid. inviolablc law that his son must be clerk
in the Department of Agriculture The average
WaShingtonian feels desire to stick a knife in
the back OF the chief of police. He knows that
he himself might have become chief of police if
his efforts and incinations had been in that drcc-
ton He knows that his has an opportunity
o becoming chief of police-that there is no in
v'o!abie law that his must earn a living by
using picks and shovels in the employ OF the street
department
As soon there such laws of course the
average Washingtonian vii! desire to shoot the
millionaire and stab the chief Of police He
wouldn't be human if he didn't
Bolshevism has relieved Russia OF lust this
condition. 1t is hard believe that has caused
enough evil to Cverbaance this one great Good
he greatest good that could co,ae to any nation.
1t Is possible for the man on the street in
Moscow to look upon the chief of police from