Page:The Descent of Bolshevism.djvu/16

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FOREWORD

ence is in the background and the surroundings, which give the movements distinct local colors and strange sounding names.

As a rule, however, the tyranny of inequality has been at the bottom of all revolts and revolutions. Only that in the past it was embodied in religions and autocracies, today it is embodied in industrialism. The masters in the past were the kings and priests, while in our times they are the captains of industry and the labor leaders. Under either condition, however, a long-suffering and downtrodden people will be driven ultimately to extremes of materialism expressed in universal negations.

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