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PROSPECTS OF REGENERATION
101
detested rule of Turkey, could find nothing better to do
than to fight each other in fratricidal strife.
A Federative Republic in which about 70 per cent, of the
component parts of the population is illiterate would be an
absurdity. It requires a fair amount of intellectual maturity
and education to be able to play the part of a republican,
whereas in Russia the great majority of the people requires,
first of all, education and a strong and enlightened lead.
At all times when a backward population has been saddled
with a too-advanced political constitution the inevitable
result has been that political factions, irresponsible
wirepullers, and all sorts of adventurers and demagogues get the
upper hand, and use the votes of the uneducated masses as
stepping-stones for personal ambitions on which to erect
an arbitrary power devoid of any sense of responsibility.
Instead of the one autocrat of bygone days, Russia is now
in danger of being possessed by a gang of autocrats provided,
not with sceptre and crown, but with the more illusive power
of bewildering and deceptive oratory.
The idea of a Federative Republic in Russia would,
according to all probability, lead to never-ending unrest,
uncertainty in the near future, internal strife, and final
decomposition, preventing the country from giving to her
population adequate education, from developing her
wonderful natural resources, and entering into her birthright of
prosperity. Russia’s only salvation lies in the return of
authority and of a strong central power from whatever
quarter such may arise. History repeats itself as far as
the same causes produce the same effects. Another Nestor
could chronicle : " Our land is rich and plentiful, but there
is no order in it." Then a call rings out from the hearts
of all well-intentioned patriots for a rule capable of according
local autonomy without endangering the unity of the
Empire.
Reaction will surely set in in a not far-distant future as
a mighty rushing back-flow following the present impotent
ebb of disintegration, the bacchanal of licence, and the
apotheosis of self-will. Only true patriotism, and not idle
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