The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1920. SPREAD OF BOLSHEVISM

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14256, 6 January 1920, Page 4

The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1920. SPREAD OF BOLSHEVISM

The progress of the Bolsheviks Is evidently causing considerable misgiving in many circles. Its forces have more than held their own against those ;which have essayed to stay their advance, and Admiral Kolchak and General Deniken, who have endeavoured to break its power m Russia with tho object of establishing some form of stable constitutional government, have themselves been broken, and are now apparently helpless to carry on the struggle. It is abundantly evident, therefore, that far from being the irresponsible armed rabble who are generally regarded as the upholders of the Bolshevist cause, they are well organised, capably led, and a power to be reckoned with. It is, therefore, evident that the world outside of Russia has a very erroneous view of the power and menace of the peculiar movement, which, if a tithe of the reports concerning it are true, threatens the very foundations, of established society, and Is calculated to bring about an anarchistic regime. Constitutional statesmen regard the thing with dread, and whole communities are disposed to look upon it with horror, but nevertheless it continues to extend its doctrines by force, and already the cry is being raised that their introduction into India is not, by any means, a remote contingency. Bolshevist agents, we are warned, are behind the pan-Islamic unrest in the Middle East, which has already manifested itself by riots in Egypt, revolts in Mesopotamia, and a turbulent spirit on the frontier, with more or loss serious ebullitions in India itsplf. It would be idle to blink at these things, and if Bolshevism is the heinous thing it is generally described, then it behoves the civilised governments to take prompt and effective steps to combat it. For the German menace, terrible as it was, was a mere circumstance compared with the later peril. The insidious propaganda so industriously circulated, appeals strongly to those whose ears it is sought to tickle, and they arc not disposed to stop and think as to whither they are being led. The prospect of immediate temporary benefit blinds their eyes to the fact that in the end they will lose more than they can possibly gain. Bolshevism, as generally understood, aims at the overthrow of constitutional government and the substitution of a regime under which the liberty of the subject will in reality be more circumscribed Ilian under tho most autocratic despot. Herr Iluszar, in an address before the Hungarian Chamber of Deputies, lias laid it down that tlie contest is a spiritual one, and that the forces of Christendom are called upon to counter those which have been assiduously marshalled in all countries throughout the past decade. That there is considerable truth in the Hungarian Minister’s contentions we are disposed to believe, as for years past observant people have been forced to the conclusion that a determined assault has been directed against the foundations of Christianity, tho object appar- ;

cully being to disced:! the people's

standard of morality and character, and to induce them to regard good as evil and evil as good, as a prelude to launching a campaign for the furtherance of their schemes against society. It is noteworthy that with the rise of the Bolshevik movement in Russia admirers of that movement have come to light in every civilised country. In America, in Britain, in France, in Italy, in Australia, and even in this Dominion men who claim to be leaders in the community have not hesitated to chain-' pion the cause of Bolshevism, and to eulogise the policy of Lenin and Trotsky as calculated to drag down the classes and benefit the masses. They pointedly appeal to the sordidness and cupidity of their followers by promising them the impossible if they will carry their counsels into effect, and they thereby induce them to chafe under the restraints imposed by the law, it being only the forces behind constitutional government which impels them to respect it. It is the widespread dissemination of these pernicious doctrines whch makes the danger of Bolshevism so real and the dread of statesmen so pronounced. It is felt that should the forces of Bolshevism obtain a footing in any country their ranks would be speedily augmented from the people of that country. Hence the desperate efforts to keep it confined to Russia, where the events following upon the overthrow of the Czar afforded the opportunity for the movement to take definite shape, and firmly establish itself. America is taking active steps to rid itself of the presence of undesirables, and to endeavour to squelch the malcontents in that country, and it may be taken for granted that other countries are keeping a watchful eye and alert ear for those who are disposed to preach sedition and advocate revolution. There is, however, little danger of any successful risings in any country at the present time. The real menace is that the deadly upas may extend from the centre, where it has taken such deep root, and for that reason there will be a general hope that Japan will be successful in preventing it spreading further eastwards. It would be well if other points were also effectively guarded.