Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VI).djvu/17

Rh to his tomb. It was for Marianna's transgression of this Silence that Turgenev has glorified her in Virgin Soil.

What was the Nihilist party of the seventies? It began, as we have said, with the Socialistic movement of 'going to the people.' This movement, again, was the natural outlet for the many liberal ideas which, germinating in 'advanced' heads, had been gathering in intensity with each generation. With the liberation of the serfs Alexander II.'s liberal policy had abruptly ended. To understand Russian politics is to know that though there are many cliques there are only two great parties, the one orthodox, the other unorthodox─the party of Governmental Action, and the party of Liberal Ideas. There are no safe politics in Russia outside the official world. If you can win over the officials to your plans in various local work, well and good; if not, your efforts are labelled 'subversive'; and it is thus that sooner or later every disciple of liberal ideas finds himself placed in direct opposition to the Government. Though there