Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/113

 that Russia lacks, then present events are allowing the Russians to accomplish in a few weeks the progress which in ordinary times takes years. Certainly the future would be more sure had the leaders gained experience in the school of realities, had they lived in immediate contact with social facts; but their ideas have been formed in exile or in prison, and the former government has kept entirely out of public affairs—of all affairs—those who have neither been exiled nor incarcerated. They had to meditate; their existence has been spent in the world of ideas, and not in that of action. Need we be surprised, under such conditions, if abstract principles often dominate them, determine their attitude, and sometimes prevent them from seeing facts.

Now that they find themselves in new conditions the realistic spirit is developing rapidly. We may even say that it is developing with astonishing rapidity. During our short visit we were able to note an evolution in the way in which the best of the leaders viewed the Revolution. This applies both to those who are