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102 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
the special conditions of life, and the historical state of
progress of each country. A republic of the type of France,
or a constitutional monarchy of the type of Great Britain
or Italy, may equally assure these aims. In Russia 80
per cent, of the population belong to the peasant class, and
are not able to, or even desirous of, taking an active share
in the political direction of the country. In these
circumstances, which will remain unchanged for the next
generation if not longer, Russian democracy would seem to require,
by no means the restoration of the old regime, which died
a quasi-natural death unregretted by the vast majority of
Russian citizens, but a truly representative form of
government—whether it be republican or monarchic—which is
able to offer sufficient guarantees of stability in the
maintenance of law and order, and of conscientious fulfilment of its
duties towards the nation.
The present regime in Russia is able to carry on its
precarious existence only by the corrupt methods of
confiscation and bribery. As long as there is a share to be taken
in spoils from the State, landowners, and educated classes
of the country, the Red Guards and other retainers of
Bolshevism—workmen and peasants—will be kept in a good
humour. It is evident, however, that this state of affairs
can only last provided that there is something to confiscate
and there are bribes to be had. When the country is entirely
and utterly ruined, and trade and industry come to a
standstill owing to the exaggerated pretensions of labour,
communistic socialism will be at the end of its tether. A
tremendous storm of indignation from the famished and
ruined population will burst forth and sweep it away.
Regeneration will follow.
Nothing can come from nothing. Negation denies
construction. The disorganisation of the army, civil
administration, local self-government, the undermining of the
economic life of the nation, the breaking up of family ties,
the destruction of Church and religious faith, the dissolution
of law and order through despotic rule and anarchy, the
corruption of existing moral principles, the dispersing of
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