Evening star., 1917-05-03

lists and dreamers. They are capable of
being inspired by broad ideals"
Mr.. London does not believe it pos
sible that the reactionary clements
will regain any degree of power. Long
before the revolution it was charged
on the floor of the duma that 100 re-
dictionary members had pledged them
selves to favor a separate peace rather
than permit the privileges of the autoc-
racy to be further infringed. That has
served to identify protagonists of a
separate peace with the czarism which
has been overthrown. and to stamp
German propagandists as opponents of
the newly won liberty. Thus the ele-
ment which favors a return to the
monarcEical form is hopelessly dis
credited.
There are no nihilists in Russia
now" said Mr.. London. There haven't
been any for forty years. They We're
the long haired men and short haired
women who rebelled against every
not merely the form, but the essentials
It was {. passing phase of Russian
progress"
Not to Return to Low Level.
Mr.. London is an optimist, but de-
clines to predict in detail the course
which may be taken in the next few
years or months. At the worst Russia
Will never return to its former low
level The principal distinction be-
tween the Russian revolution and the
great historical revolutions of the past
lies in the presence OF 4 new factor
namely. an organized labor and social
lst movement The socialist movement
mas mad two tendencies. The social
democrats in their belief that what the
socialists call capitalism will ultimate
~ change into democratic ownership and
INTO industrial democracy. laid stress
upon the process of educating and or
Sanizing the masses.
or course. they We're revolutionary
SO lar as czarISm and absolutism We're
concerned.
The other tendency is represented
by the socialist revolutionists, who be-
lieve that Russia will not have to go
through the painful process of becom-
ing first capitalistic state and then
developing into socialism. Their pro-
gram was based upon the needs of the
peasantry of the great agricultural
classes of Russia. Starting out with
the now prevailing village ownership
of land, they advocate the extension of
the principle of the control of the land
by those who actually till the soil. SO
far as the overthrow of the czar is CON
cerned, they favored terrorism, and
they We're responsible for the removal
of Won Plehve and similar tyrants.
Position of Jewish "Bunds."
a third element was the Jewish
'bunds.' which favored education and
believed in evolution, but opposed ter
rorism. The government indiscrimi-
nately prosecuted members of all re-
form parties. A cross-section of the
exile population of Siberia would be
fairly representative of all parties"
In the revolution of 1906 about co.
100000 people participated. In large
part the methods pursued then We're
peaceful. Bricklayers and lawyers
teachers and truck drivers went on
strike together. One of the ministers
of the crown admitted that he advised
the ear to sign the manifesto of 1905
because he became convinced of the
reality of the movement when for three
days his own servants had struck and
ii had been impossible for his children
to have a bath. 1t brought all ele-
ments together and paved the way for
what was to come.
One of the reasons why Russia will
never sign separate peace. in his
opinion, is the profound love that all
Russians have for France. THE Rus
sian intellectuals know the Paris streets
by the reading of French authors, al
though they have never visited the
city" THE French people are to them
the incarnated rebels of democracy"
All Russians too, realize the menace of
the formidable military force on their
western border. while they take at face
value the declaration of the allies that
they will protect small nations. Rus
sia will never consent that Serbia and
Belgium be left exposed to the German
threat-"or France either added Mr..
London; "for after this war France
will have lost some portion of her
strength.
Russian social democrats have de-
clared that Russia desires neither an
nexed territory nor compensation. |
believe the next step forward will be
that the social democrats of Germany
will force similar declaration from
the reichstag."