WORSE THAN CZARDOM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 6

WORSE THAN CZARDOM.

•"Worse than under the Czar' , are the words used by the famous Russian exile, Emma Goldman, iv the course of an interview on her arrival in Canada from Europe to describe political institutions as they exist in Russia to-day. Revolutionary and an anarchist, Emma Goldman, whom Rebecca West describes as "a mountain of integrity," was prepared to find in the Russian revolution the fulfilment of her dreams of • liberty for the Russian masses. In 1917 and 1918 she toured America in defence of the Bolsheviks and published a pamphlet defending them as embodying in practice the spirit of the revolution. She returned to Russia to help in the great work, and for more than a year after her return she clung to her faith and belief. It was only after extensive observations and study and travel through various parts of the country that she became convinced of the "ghastly delusion" which had been foisted upon the world. In her book, '"My Disillusionment in Russia," she gives the reasons which caused her to denounce the Bolsheviks as greater foes to liberty than any Czar had been. In describing the "Labour Book" of the Bolsheviks she says "it was a record of every step one made, and without it no step could be made. It bound its holder his job, to the city he lived in, and to the room he occupied. It recorded one's political faith and party adherence, and the number of times he was arrested. The Anarchists who protested against it were arrested by the Tcheka." During her travels through the country she met crowds of people who would have been glad to leave Russia had they been able. They said they were "suffocating in the atmosphere of intrigue, blind hatred, and senseless persecution." The social phase of life in Russia was suppressed by a political dictatorship which supervised all clubs, meetingplaces, restaurants and even dancing halls. She finds the explanation in the Bolshevik contempt for character and humanity. "Revolution," she says. "that divests itself of ethical values thereby lays the foundation of injustice, deceit, and oppression for the future society. Coercion at every step has made effort bitter, labour apunishment, has turned the whole of existence into a scheme of mutual deceit, and has revived the lowest and most brutal instincts of man." That seems to be the general judgment of mankind on Bolshevik rule.