Page:Sarolea - Great Russia.djvu/231

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THE REVOLUTION
215

bility of a strong policy, as the several sections of the party are divided, not on questions of principle, which might be compromised, but on differences of race and nationality, which will ever be conflicting. Unity of action seems impossible on any constructive programme. No single section of the revolutionary party could secure the support of the others, nor would it have sufficient power to absorb or control them.

(5) A strong administration can therefore be only established if all the moderate and liberal elements of the people loyally rally round the present government and if that government boldly initiates and consistently pursues a comprehensive programme of constructive reform. It is absurd to object that Tsardom and Bureaucracy once they had regained their strength would at once abuse it and would again start on a course of reaction. The recent history of Russia abundantly shows that such liberal despotism is possible in Russia. Forty years ago, Alexander II successfully carried through a succession of political, economic, and social reforms, the most gigantic perhaps that have ever been accomplished by one man. Is faciet cui prodest. Even if it had the power, autocracy henceforth has no interest to revert to its