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Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1928, Page 2

The people who believe in Bolshevism as u panacea for the world’s Wo'es must Ik; hard put to it Occasionally to find a satisfactory defence for 'everything tintt file inemb'ers of the Soviet hierarchy at Aldscow say or do. Quite recehtJy the pro-Bolsheviks have teen reproving thro, unregonerate world for describing Bolshevism as irreligious. Well, says a contemporary, Marx said that religion is an opiate administered by the capitalist to the wage-earn-er to drug him into insensibility, and the Bolsheviks can hardly refuse to follow their great prophet's touching in tnis particular. Hi any case, there is no doubt about the manifesto issued by the Soviet just before Christmas, setting forth a regular programme of ‘anti-religious ceremonies and discussions.*' The people are urged to avoid the priests and to stay away from the churches, ami no “i’fort is

spared to make the orthodox faith in particular-. liVul religion in general, ridiculous and contemptible. Of course, ’the Bolsheviks are tmti-roiig-ious. otherwic.se they Would hot bo true Alarxinim. Just in the same way. they fife lovers Of war and haters of peace, for the doctrine of the ‘class war’’ is the root and origin of their social and jsilitical system. And so, characteristically enough, at the Now Von"r. the Soviet newspaper, reviewing tlie events of 1927. linger triumphantly over the Vienna riots and the strikes everywhere, as proof that the ‘‘class war” is spreading, and that tlie rovoluntionary movement must sooner or later prevail. As usual also, they utilise their gospel of cruelty and hate as an excuse for false charges against Britain, who is accused of fomenting war against “the Soviols. the motherland of the world’s proletariat” What hope of pence, social or national Or international, can there ho anywhere while these monstrous doctrines flourish?