Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-26
THM Arl1NrA rNl WNNnLY JOURNAL

| to fasten upon the world. Elsewise, he
would hardly have continued pressing his
radical theory while Russia, victim of the
experiment, sank deeper and deeper into
wretchedness and degradation. He repudi-
ated debts of honor, he virtually declared
war against Western Europe and the United
States, he alienated his countrys best
friends, he outawed her staunchest and
wisest patriots, he caused, or permitted.
thousands of her citizens of the upper and
middle classes to be killed, and the property
of thousands Of others to be confiscated; he
trampled down religious liberty he tyran-
nized and terrorized, all to maintain the
DRY as i'll suited to the broader needs of hui
man nature as to the loftier aspirings of the
human spirit. That he did so from firm
conviction is not gainsaid; but it was a
conviction that makes countless thousands
mourn"
Yet, Lenine assuredIy served some larger
purpose than would appear from the imme-
date tangle and stress of his little hour
upon the stage. Some there are, indeed,
who hail him as a high political and social
prophet, as a thinker far in advance of his
time, whose ideals the future will justify.
They liken him to the intellectual leaders Of
the French revolution, declaring that he has
kndled light which, though it startles to-
day, will lead tomorrow. This, in our way
of thinking, is a purely fancifuI interpreted
ton of the Russian dictators role. He may
be compared to the terrorists of the French
revolution, but not to its great heralds and
constructive thinkers. He brought the world
no fresh or emancipating idea, but an exag-
gerated formula of mid-nineteenth socialism,
a nostrum over which Shakespeare grew
merry three hundred years ago:
L the commonwealth 1 would by con-
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; richces,
poverty
succession,
Bourn, bound of land filth, vineyard,
none;
No occupation; ALI men idle, all
All things in common, nature should
produce,
without sweat Or endeavor.
When all this is said, however, the fact
remains that for more than five years Lenine
did govern-years of tremendous tumult and
peril Repeatedly his rule was challenged
at home and denounced abroad, but to the
day Of his fatal illness he continued master.
Kolchak. Denikin, Wrangel, all led armies
against him, with the moral if not material
support of foreign powers; and all were
beaten Lack Mediocre talent could never
have survived the continued crises through
which Lenine pas-.d, or have held together
the wild arl motley forces on which his adj
mi2istration rested A ruthlessly Dractical
genius he Was, despite vagaries and visions,
or he would have succumbed long ago to the
storm Of events
Further, he governed more in accordance
with economic truth and with more OF de
cent respect for the opinions of mankind"
as his experience deepened. Gradually he
We coming to an understanding with west
ern as we'll as central Europe. and in time
perhaps would have made it possible Tor the
United States to extend measure of recog-
milton to Moscow Above all, he governed
at time when sheer anarchy threatened;
and that at last, may be judged his redeem
ing achievement SO vast and populous
country as Russia, whether her fortunes be
good or i'll, her politics reassuring Or alarm
ing, can not be left out Of the worlds &C
count; nor could so masterful personality
as Lenines. From the fact that the helm OF
the Soviet government has been in other
hands for months since his illness became
critical, it is inferred that the effect Of his
death on Russian affairs has been discount
ed; this ma or may not prove true. But
the effect of his life on the currents OF ma
tional and international history will GER
tainly grow more clearly marked with the
advancing tide Of years.
PREMONITIONS