Revolution Analyzed

THE COMING AMERICAN REVOLUTION-- George Soule--Macmillan ($2.50). To most U. S. citizens, who refuse to think back to 1776, Revolution is unAmerican, unethical and downright unpatriotic. In the zoo of horrifying future events, it remains the most ferocious tiger of them all. Unalarmed by roars that are still caged Author Soule has examined the nature of the beast, pointed out the size and thickness of the bars, and in the calm tones of an oldtime liberal announced that it would be some time before the audience would have to start running for its life. After analyzing the nature of revolution, its causes and symptoms, Author Soule proceeds to fit current U. S. history to this revolutionary pattern, finds that the U. S. revolution is still in its preliminary stages. Capitalism is changing, but it still has a few tricks up its sleeve. ''The chills and fever of capitalism, observed since its infancy, shake and burn its whole body more drastically as it approaches old age." Wall Street, he implies, has not yet seen its last boom or its last crash. Author Soule disagrees with many a Republican who thinks a revolution took place when Roosevelt was elected. He sums up the New Deal's accomplishments and aims: "Mr. Roosevelt did a lot of reforestation in our governmental landscape; many were tending the new saplings; but it was nobody's business to look at the woods." The crash of 1929 and the depression had a loud bark but no real bite, says Author Soule. "It is clear that we are not now in the critical period of revolution. What the depression of the thirties gave us was an excellent foretaste, however, of the aspect that crisis will assume if it does come. . . . [The President and his advisers] handed the system back to the old rulers, with enough help so that they were able to carry on. . . ." The two necessary ingredients for Revolution, says Author Soule, are the ferment of ideas and the rise to power of a new class. In the U. S. both these ingredients are slowly in the making. To anxious readers who would like to know if the revolution will be violent when it comes. Analyzer Soule rejoins that revolutions in themselves are seldom violent. "Reigns of terror, civil war, revolutionary war. are conducted not to bring about revolution, but to preserve it." Only half-reassured, the anxious reader will then want to know how soon the revolution will be upon him. Author Soule cautiously replies: "Some time in the future--perhaps not for another generation or two--there is likely to occur another equally serious breakdown cf capitalism. If by that time the ferment of ideas has done its work and the rising classes have attained sufficient status and confidence, the two essential ingredients of the revolutionary mixture will be present."

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