Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-26
N;ko7a; Len;ne, Dictator

rT o pronounce judgment any man in
the day of his death would be, for
merely human vision, a venture more
hazardous than wise, and particularly on so
beclouded figure as Nikolai Lenine. Many
mists must clear away and the years bring
their mellowing perspective ere his part in
the history either of Russia or of the world
can be fairly assessed. The task would be
less difficult if we had only Lenine himself
to consider-his protested ideas, his pur-
posed deeds, and that portion of his brill
liantly ruthless career for which he is pat
emily responsible. But in the working out
well as actors, moving about in worlds not
realized" and sometimes playing roles whose
tyrannous Pharaoh promotes an immeas
urably fruitful freedom, and bowling mob
of bigots serves, all unknowing, to fulfill
the plan of the Prince of good will. So
1t may be with Lenine.
The Soviet chieftain is referred to ia press
dispatches as leader of the forces that over
threw Russian czardom. This he assuredIy
was not. The revolution of March, 1917,
which led to the abdication Of the last of
the Romanoffs, was not under control Of
Lenines extremist faction; and on that very
account gave promise of liberal, stable and
free government Established by will of
the Duma, it's minister of justice and rulng
spirit was the high-hearted Kerenski while
important posts were held by noblemen like
Milyukov and Lvov. 1t announced pro-
gram of constructive reform including free
dom of speech, universal suffrage, and cleo
ton of constituent assembly. At the same
time it pledged the cause of the Allies, then
at deadliest grips with Prussianism, unfail-
Ing support. The story of the ensuing years
would have been far happier for Europe, no
doubt, and far more creditable to Russia if
this leadership had held its own. But that
was not to be.
BY November, 1917, Kerensh's liberal
regime had fallen before the continued in
trigue and attack Of the Bolshevikt. The
Duma had been abolished. Final authority
had been vested in council of workmen S
and soldiers delegates. Lenine had been
made premier, and Trotski his bristling Man
Friday. Democracy fled. The dictatorship
OF the proletarat" began. In March, 1918,
a year after the first revolution, came the
ignoble treaty of Brest-Litovsk, in which
Lenine sealed his faithlessness to the Allies
and surrendered to Germany a vast part
of the Russian domain. All else to which
the democratic forces had pledged them
selves was flung to the winds A constitu-
emit assembly, soon after converting, was
forcibly dissolved by the Bosheviki when
they found themselves outnumbered and out
voted. All pretense of representative SOW
eminent was abandoned 4 so-called "peo-
pies commission backed by congress of
Soviet delegates, was given charge, The
hand behind the treasury and the army,
howeve-, was Lenine's, and his was the &C
tual power. So persisted freedom of speech,
general rights of suffrage, and government
by and for the people. Car Nicholas was
: dead. Gar Nikolai reigned.
Lenines professions were extremely popu-
artistic; his acts were extremely despotic
He must have believed intensely, at the out
ket, in the communism which he strove to
rivst upon his country and hoped eventually