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Show THE CITIZEN 4 selves by force of arms. They have broken the fetters that confined them within a sterile land and have taken possession of the graneries of eastern Europe. In the second place the new policy is founded on a great hope the hope that the Reds may, contrary to all their words and deeds, turn out to be honest and of good faith. With the Reds, as with the Germans, treaties and compacts are scraps of paper. Some months ago, when Tchicherin was advocating an agreement with the council at Versailles, he told his followers that if they could obtain an advantageous peace by means of a treaty they could break the treaty whenever they should see fit. So far as any of us outside Bolshevik Russia can judge the Reds are willing to promise anything that will obtain them an advantage. It seems to be simply a case of getting what they want from the allies and giving in exchange any pledge that may be exacted. They leave good faith to Christian dogs. They are utter materialists of the most utilitarian type. The believe only in the gods of this world. Neither religion nor honor appeals to them as a sanction. All that belongs to the old civilization. Religion, honor, contracts, treaties all that was merely the machinery of the old civilization for keeping men in awe and subjection. And the old civilization, in its weakness, is. forced to make peace with that kind of an enemy. The prospect is not brilliantly encouraging. The Bolsheviki are determined that their revolution shall spread around the globe and shall topple over all thrones except their own. They see a better chance now than ever before to accomplish their purpose. Their chance in Europe is better than their chance in the United States, for the United States is the least materialistic, country in all the world. Bolshevism is new in our land; it is old in Europe. Nihilism, which was the precursor of Communism in Russia, beg?m to be prevalent in the czars domains as long ago as 1855 and 1860. In reality it has been working its way there for more than a half a century and the Red Terror is its apotheosis. Because the United States is a land of ideals the grim and gross materialism of the Europeans will make slower progress here than . : whole-hearted- m Petrograd government. The British empire is none too safe. With the Bolsheviki at the Black sea and with revolutions in India and Egypt and active hostility against her in Afghanistan, Persia and Asia Minor, Great Britain needs all the help she can get from her allies. If the United States Senate permits Article X of the treaty to stand the British will breathe easily once again, for by that article the United States guarantees the territorial integrity and existing political independence of the British empire. It is an appalling pledge because it sets before us a Herculean task. Great Britain sees the impossibility of conquering the Bolsheviki by force of arms. She is leaving that work, so far as Siberia is concerned, to her ally Japan. But what can Japan do indeed, what will it care to do should the Lenine government arouse all Asia against the British in India, Persia and Asia Minor? Is this to argue that the allies are making a mistake when they suspend the economic boycott and military operations against the Bolsheviki? On the contrary, the move is perhaps the best that can be made, but it does not offer much security. It is a choice between two evils. Lifting the blockade takes from the Reds a potent argument. As . . , ly . abroad. The next triumph of Bolshevism is apt to be an alliance of Russia and Germany. The Republican government of Germany is thoroughly socialistic; in a few months, or whenever the time. seems opportune, it will become communistic and will join hands with Lenine. Esthonia, Lithuania, Letvia and Poland probably will cease to exist except as independent governments. And then what will France do? Can it maintain itself against the Reds within its own gates? Are they not liable to enter into a working agreement with the Red laborites of Germany and Russia. Already the socialistic press of France is defending every act of the long as that blockade was in effect the Reds, with sobs and tears, could appeal to their sympathizers all over the world for aid and comfort and appeal justly. Now they are placed in an entirely different position. They are left to themselves to make good. They will be given a more or less free hand to demonstrate whether their economic ' system can survive. Lenine has decided to accept this challenge. He believes hecan prove that Communism is destined to .be a success. He has some points in his favor and he has gloated over 'them in the last few months. Can anyone doubt that the Bolshevik successes in the field' have been due to superior organization? A year ago Bolshevism was and thoroughly destructive, but the time came when Lenine was compelled to modify his program. He saw that his armies could not triumph unless they were adequately supplied and it was elemental that the armies could not be supplied so long as the factories were closing. Perforce, he compromised with the business men of Russia. He raked the land for men of executive and creative ability. He saw that he must build up a vast industrial system while he was engaged in destroying old institutions. To what extent he has succeeded we can judge only by the military results. Communication with interior Russia is too incomplete to reveal to us the epic of his industrial construction, but reason tells us that the equipment of his army could only be the result of renewed industrial organization: The old civilization, therefore, is put on trial as never before. Religion, the family, authority and law in truth all the institutions of our civilization are to be pitted against a system which believes in none of these things. Bolshevism is the last word in atheism. It believes only in matter; only in this life, only in the things of this earth. The old civilization, even when the Greek and Roman gods were supreme in the veneration of men, was essentially a spiritual civilization, believing in right and wrong and in a world beyond the grave. The struggle that is just beginning is to be a final test between materialism and Christian civilization. In this struggle enlightened men will guard against a tendency that is becoming too common. Reactionaries are prone to call every reform Bolshevism. As a matter of fact, many of the reforms now proposed in this country are quite in accord with progress under our republican institutions. The question for Americans to decide is whether these reforms are beneficial, whether they will really accomplish their object. If Bolshevism is what we believe it to be we ought not to worry about the ultimate result. If Bolshevism is wrong it will collapse. True, it may fill the world with woe before it breaks down, but unless it have within it the true germ of life it will die in free competition with civilization. . GREAT NAVAL BATTLE ASHORE THERE is no obvious reason why the great American public should the present, maintain strict neutrality between Admiral T Sims and the Daniels department of the United States government.' In fact, it will add to our amusement as well as our enlightenment if we keep our minds open while the heroes of the vasty deep carry on their trial by combat. It was possible to form a prompt and fairly accurate view of the admirals charges concerning the award of distinguished service decorations. Itjwas not difficult to see that there was something wrong when the7 highest decoration was awarded to those who lost their ships and to swiyel chair warriors while the inferior decoration was pinned on those who had faced death and triumphed over the enemy. Nor could the public eye rest upon that astounding picture of Daniel the Little standing, as it were, on tiptoe to decorate his brother-in-lawho had so gallantly let his ship slip from under him. ITad Admiral Sims confined his ambition to the thrashing of devious Daniels for such a mean trick there would have been nothing but sheer delight for the audience. Nor shall we say that the admiral has made a blunder when he takes in more territory and declares that he w |
