Page:The Spirit of Russia by T G Masaryk, volume 2.pdf/454

428 mass revolution. With the help of the liberals, the working classes and their radical leaders fought for and obtained the constitution.

HIS brief historical sketch should suffice, for a history of Russian liberalism was given as part of the historical sketch, and a description was furnished of the principal facts bearing on the movement.

The question may be asked, why no noted liberals have received individual treatment such as was given in the case of Kropotkin apropos of anarchism. The reply is that liberalism is so multiform that it would have been necessary to deal with a very large number of individuals. Most liberals of note are persons whose main distinction has been acquired in other fields; they are historians, political economists, jurists, and the like, who turn aside for a time from these special studies. But the socio-political characteristics of Russian liberalism have been described, though briefly.

Russian liberalism, like that of Europe, has had two distinct epochs; and the liberalism of the later phase, that of the days since the death of Alexander II, exhibits all the defects as well as the merits of European liberalism. Lukewarmness, indecision, dread of political initiative, are conspicuous failings. Upon many questions of the first importance, the views of liberals are divided. For example, Čičerin is in favour of natural law, Maromcev (president of the first duma) is in favour of historic law. Similar differences prevail among liberals upon religious matters.

The Russian liberal looks for help, not to his own exertions, not to the people, but to those in high places. Čičerin, like Naumann in Germany, hoped for the establishment of a democratic monarchy; but whereas Naumann, when he spoke of the people, meant the social democracy, and wanted a socialist monarchy, Čičerin proposed to break the power of the aristocracy with the aid of the populace led by the crown. The tsar was to destroy his own aristocracy! Černyševskii in this matter saw much more clearly than Čičerin.

The liberal, being a man of half-measures, is inconsistent, and stops half way to the goal.

The "children," therefore, could not feel much respect