The Washington times., 1931-10-09
True etOType
SUBTLE FLATTERY
FROM RUSSIA
FOR u. S. A.
-Rv (HELREktT SEn.lDES-

BY GILBEKT SEn-0DES
Mr.. Walter Duranty, close keen and sympathetic
observer of the Russian Sovets, has recently given to
Western Europe and the United States the most cheer
ing statement in months While upholders of our capi-
tastic system beating their breasts going into peni
ence (or the penitentiary in cases for previous
ofenses and trying to shore the structure of society
with sem-socalstic plans the heads of the one great
sociastc experiment that they do not think
capitalism is the brink of destruction or the edge
of the abyss or the last convuson puckng at the
coverlet In brief they think that there's life in the
old dog yet
Clairvoyants
The Importance of this lies in two circumstances:
The Sovets would dearly like to believe that capitalism
has gone they said in the phut and the Soviet
leaders extraordinarily clear-sghed who do not
let themselves believe what they want to believe, Mr..
Duranty names Stain a with the exceptional
faculty among human beings of recognizing facts,
if he dskes the facts This u.s. to be sure, the sign of
the adult and is not grown up until one has
grown to this stature but children and those who
main nfantle through their lives well victims
of mental disorder have the faculty of looking straight
at fact and then denying it's existence is pleasant
until the shock of reality comes.
Soviet Religion
We have been told ten thousand times that the
Soviets feed their people promises and lies do
not know if that is true not, since considerable
number of respectable people who have worked in
Russia witnesses to the contrary When they de-
spoiled the Russian church, the Soviets put up the
sign which has probably hurt them more in the West
than any of their cruelties Religion opium for the
people" And it has seemed to many observers that
they promptly erected another religion he religion of
communsm) in its place.
They have, without question, created faith which
the dominant Russians hold, and it is remarkable be-
cause it is faith which goes through every moment
of their lives The great religions of the past have
served to saints monks and zeaots the privilege of
being always in the presence of their gods In Russia
it amounts almost to a misdemeanor to forget COM
munism when you are brushing your teeth.
I suspect it of being uncomfortable faith for
those who do not dedicate themselves easily. Having
to remember the class struggle whenever you write
play model head write a tune or observe a
microbe, must be a nuisance; and party is quite
good enough to be kept in mind when you cooking
steak making love. The triumph of the Sovies is
that they have, apparently, made themselves
good enough to large portion of the citizens. 1t may
be the great lie of communism that the class struggle
is behind all human activities that economic motives
powerful than Oedipus complexes; but it is
not opiate.
ACCepraOIe MISery
So far the reports of angry Americans that Russia is
suffering ('worse off than under the Tsars" is the
favorite phrase of those who under the
Tsars) have not been impressive. It is not only
natural it is probably desirable in the eyes of the
leaders, that Russia should suffer- since it is bringing
a world into being am not impressed by edicts
against the of soap, and although do not like
terrorism and police espionage, they to natural
weapons in country which has used them for centuries
and understands their power The attack on
Sovietism should be the ultimate ideals of Sovietsm,
not its temporary expedients
1t does not strike lie to tell people that for five
years things will not be particularly cheerful and that
after the five years over another five years. only
slightly better will follow. Perhaps if had been told
in February of 1880 that had the lean years
and that sixty months would pass before should be
prosperous again, should not be reluctant cha
Otic in mind, and desperate but were told that
sixty days would rounding the corner If things