Page:Michael Farbman - The Russian Revolution & The War (1917).djvu/15

 the railway lines to Petrograd. Particular indignation was caused by the fact that the railway trucks were boldly placarded with the popular legend "Kuvaka." It is hardly possible to imagine such a thing in England without an immense scandal. In Russia it made no particular stir. Even the Duma outburst fell flat.

It was only one out of many such affairs. Everywhere it was the same. The psychology of those in power or with influence of any kind had nothing in it of what you in England call "public spirit." Russia was their patrimony, to be exploited for their individual benefit, and they exploited it to the full. As for State officials, from the highest to the lowest, there was no limit to their rapacity and insolence. High Government officials bullied and terrorised bankers and rich manufacturers under blackmail and threat of arrest. These same bankers and industrials were making enormous almost legendary profits to the growing indignation of the nation. To calm popular irritation the Government appointed