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Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1925, Page 2

Bolshevism is not clearly understood. A better idea, of its possible effect at Home was aroused during the late general election by the famous Hussian letter dramatically revealed at that time. This lias led an English writer to expound on the subject. He says: “It is a symptom of a deadly disease which has been working for centuries in the besom of European Society.” Its aim i,s tbe destruction of civilisation; and as this rests on two main foundations, religion and the family, these are the main objects of attack. Thus in the collected speeches and writings of Trotsky very little attention is paid to the economic or political principles of Communism. “We are. in fact, up against a psychological problem, and the attempt commonly made to deal with it as if it were, a political or a social problem is bound to fail. r l hat is the real reason why Bolshevism is not understood in this country. Indeed, it would almost seem to require a mediaeval mind to understand it. It would have presented no difficulties in those days, for the belief was then commonly accepted that human beings actually existed and could be met with every day who not only worshipped the very principle of evil, but were wholly devoted to its practice, and the mediaeval world had a very summary way of dealing with them. There have been tyrannies, massacres, and tortures before. ■ What is new, what is different from all other forms of tyranny is the desire to eradicate the primitive instincts which distinguish mankind from the brute creation. It is correct to say that Bolshevism involves a return to barbarism, for even the most degraded savage has .some form of religion, and most barbarians have very strict notions of family life. Indeed, the most primitive forms of society are founded upon the family. The Soviet is really an international Government, q.t war with the whole yyorld, particu-

Inly with its chief enemy, the British Empire, which has heen gravely weakened through its efforts; as events in India, Egypt, and to some extent, in Ireland, prove. “If only Europe can he plunged into another great war, the triumph of Bolshevism should be assured.”