RUSSIA VS. BOLSHEVISM

Russia is not satisfied with Bolshevism. So far the opposition has been expressed in spasmodic and disorganized attempts to resist the absolutism and military dictatorship of Lenine and his kind. But they have been feeble efforts, utterly unable to withstand the Red armies. Disorganization in Russia has proved a blessing to Bolshevism.

But the tide seems to be turning at last. Out of the chaos in Russia there is one group of men who have the power to gather together the stray ends of opposition, to unify the disorganized but widespread resistance to the Soviets. This is the Constituent Assembly, duty elected by universal suffrage to represent all-Russia and dissolved three years ago by the Bolsheviki when they set up by force their military regime. Former Premier Kerensky has issued a manifesto calling a hundred members to a conference in Paris "to devise ways and means for the defense of the honor, the self-respect and patrimony of Russia before the peoples of the entire world until such time when the peoples of Russia, by their own action and free will, will restore and recognize a legally constituted Russian state."

The Soviets are receiving many rebuffs from abroad; they may soon face a crisis from within. So far they have not been confronted with anything dangerous; but it is within the power of the members of the Constituent Assembly to start a unified opposition under the leadership that the Russian people need, which shall on able them to shake off Boishevism forever. In future histories the Paris Conference may well be indicated as the beginning of the Soviets' downfall.