to the Soviet Republic, Lenin "is farther removed from the people than the Tsar was, or than any actual ruler in Europe." He adds: "To form an idea of his stability, independence and power, think of the process that would have to be gone through with_by the people to remove and elect a successor."[1]
The Power of the Commissars.
These Commissars, who are farther removed from the people than the Tsar was, have more power than the Tsar had. They exercise the power of a government introducing Socialism and such power, no State in the world enjoys. They impress their wills upon the lives of the people with greater force and continuity. than any other government in the world. A Socialist State or a State introducing Socialism, is a most powerful State. Russia, introducing Socialism, is ruled by a few Commissars, who are, in turn, ruled by Lenin. They are practically irremovable. But they confiscate property and bank deposits; they make the land laws; they are the great employer of the Russian workmen; they ration food; they make laws about religion and determine the type of education for Russian children; they stifle criticism leveled against them; they forbid meetings and newspapers; they are the executioners and the jailers and have an army at their command. Yet they gained their power through the will of 200,000 Bolsheviks in a country of 180,000,000 people, and they have retained their power through the energy of the militant "vanguard of the toilers."
Terrorism.
They have called on terrorism to keep their power. Lenin told American workmen that "to get power and
- ↑ The Bullit Mission to Russia, p. 112. Testimony before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.
