The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-09-27
the sacrifice to the state of funda-
mental rights of personal liberty.

Take another outstanding exponent
of the theory that the state should be
supreme and the rights of the individual
secondary. Soviet Russia IS living
example of that theory. One does not
have to theorize any longer; one merely
has to turn to Russia for an example
of what that ideal of government pro-
duces.
Will Durant went to Russia with the
feeling that perhaps their form of gov
eminent was going to open to mankind
much higher and better form of
society. Here is what he says about
it after his return, in his book The
Tragedy of Russia Read it carefully.
Surely the time has come says
Durant for the intelleetuals, the lib
erals and the radicals of the world to
speak out about this new slavery, to
call it clearly and bluntly what il IS.
For it can no longer be doubted that
in this dictatorship of politicians is to be
found every abuse which liberals and
radicals have denounced in their own
societies for generations. The Soviet
has allowed its people to starve BY the
| thousands. 1t has checked all COM
petition and made itself monopoly of
monopoies; it has restored serfdom,
conscription of labor. and indentured
servitude among the people that had
recently liberated itself by revolution
and civil war, from these feudal chains,
it has kept wages low and labor
intense. and has made democracy in
the factory only sham; it has herded
] and regimented its people like cattle. It
has pitilessly industralized its women
under the pretense of emancipating
them: ii has crowded the population
into dingy quarters, and offered every
Encouragement to the creation OF
homes. j. 1t has stifled the growth OF
democracy, and has centralized power
into a dictatorship of fanatics and
machines. it has waged class war
against peasants tradesmen and mental
workers: there is no opportunity for
the expression of the public will;
it has oppressed with unsurpassed bar
barity men and women guilty OF nc
other crime than the prosperity attend
ant upon enterprise, industry, Intelli-
gence and thrift; it has refused the
rights of habeas corpus, Of trial by jury
Of equality before the law: it has sen
its secret police into million homes
it has terrorized the public witt
marching armies. secret police, merci-
less penalties. and million spies, |
has deported or shot hundreds Of thou
sands of men and women solely To-
political heresy and nom comformance
II has subjected to censorship ever,
drama and every book, even ever,
opera it has prostituted the press, tn
radio and the stage. II has sup
pressed all freedom of speech or as
sembly. and in effect has raised thou
: sand obstacles against the freedom Q
/ worship and belief Slavery. bar
barism and Observation-Disclosures funda
mentally, despite thousand mine
virtues, is what Russia is today
In spite of the dire results that ar
following government by dictatorshi
in Europe, yet there is strong move
ment to implant in the United State
! that same dreadful system.
by their fruits we shall know them
: Surely the American people will nevs
. exchange their government of person;
: liberty for the tyrannies Of despotisn
to free themselves from which the
i forefathers fought and died.