Page:Raymond Augustine McGowan - Bolshevism in Russia and America (1920).pdf/14

 14 keep it, civil war, terrorism, etc., are necessary." Bolsheviki do not desire blood, but they will not hesitate to murder those who inconveniently stand in their way. Apologists for the Soviet Republic say that not more than 5,000 were killed in the Russian Red Terror. A recent report has it that the Soviet Republic has executed 9,641 and arrested 128,000 in the struggle against the counter-revolution. But the number killed and imprisoned is not the chief consideration. The central point is the fact that a revolution by a minority, particularly if it is a Socialist revolution, will meet with determined and justifiable opposition. But, according to the Bolshevik leaders, any such opposition, whether it comes from individuals or groups or armed bands, must be crushed without mercy. The exact numbers killed and imprisoned is of secondary importance before this fact.

Besides terrorism, they have other ways of keeping their power. One source of their power is that the State is the Capitalist. The power of the Capitalist becomes the power of a Monopolist-Capitalist, and then to it is joined the power of the State. The State and the Commissars, who control the State, control the jobs, the livelihood, and the lives of a part of the people; as Capitalist or as Executioners they can crush opposition.

But perhaps the chief strength of the Bolsheviki lies in the compromises they have made with Socialism to quell the opposition of such groups as the peasants and the members of the coöperative societies. It is of the very nature of Socialism to have common ownership of production and distribution. The Bolsheviki have compromised on their principles, perhaps irredeemably, to retain their power and effect ultimately the Socialist Society. Unlike Reformist Socialists, who compromise