登陆注册
5382300000319

第319章 CHAPTER XXXIX(12)

I have no desire to conceal or minimise such dangers, but I believe they are temporary and by no means so great as the dangers of the only other alternatives--energetic repression and listless inactivity. Terrorism and similar objectionable methods of political warfare are symptoms of an abnormal, unhealthy state of society, and would doubtless disappear in Russia, as they have disappeared in other countries, with the conditions which produced them. If the terrorists continued to exist under a more liberal regime, they would be much less formidable, because they would lose the half-concealed sympathy which they at present enjoy.

Political assassinations may occasionally take place under the most democratic governments, as the history of the United States proves, but terrorism as a system is to be found only in countries where the political power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals; and it sometimes happens that irresponsible persons are exposed to terrorist attacks. We have an instance of this at present in St. Petersburg. The reluctance of the Emperor to adopt at once a Liberal programme is commonly attributed to the influence of two members of the Imperial family, the Empress Dowager and the Grand Duke Vladimir. This is a mistake. Neither of these personages is so reactionary as is generally supposed, and their political views, whatever they may be, have no appreciable influence on the course of affairs. If the Empress Dowager had possessed the influence so often ascribed to her, M. Plehve would not have remained so long in power. As for the Grand Duke Vladimir, he is not in favour, and for nearly two years he has never been consulted on political matters. The so-called Grand Ducal party of which he is supposed to be the leader, is a recently invented fiction. When in difficulties the Emperor may consult individually some of his near relatives, but there is no coherent group to which the term party could properly be applied.

As soon as the Autocratic Power has decided on a definite line of action, it is to be hoped that a strong man will be found to take the direction of affairs. In Russia, as in other autocratically governed countries, strong men in the political sense of the term are extremely rare, and when they do appear as a lusus naturae they generally take their colour from their surroundings, and are of the authoritative, dictatorial type. During recent years only two strong men have come to the front in the Russian official world.

The one was M. Plehve, who was nothing if not authoritative and dictatorial, and who is no longer available for experiments in repression or constitutionalism. The other is M. Witte. As an administrator under an autocratic regime he has displayed immense ability and energy, but it does not follow that he is a statesman capable of piloting the ship into calm waters, and he is not likely to have an opportunity of making the attempt, for he does not--to state the case mildly--possess the full confidence of his august master.

Even if a strong man, enjoying fully the Imperial confidence, could be found, the problem would not be thereby completely and satisfactorily solved, because an autocrat, who is the Lord's Anointed, cannot delegate his authority to a simple mortal without losing something of the semi-religious halo and the prestige on which his authority rests. While a roi faineant may fulfil effectively all the essential duties of sovereignty, an autocrate faineant is an absurdity.

In these circumstances, it is idle to speculate as to the future.

All we can do is to await patiently the development of events, and in all probability it is the unexpected that will happen.

The reader doubtless feels that I am offering a very lame and impotent conclusion, and I must confess that I am conscious of this feeling myself, but I think I may fairly plead extenuating circumstances. Happily for my peace of mind I am a mere observer who is not called upon to invent a means of extricating Russia from her difficult position. For that arduous task there are already brave volunteers enough in the field. All I have to do is to explain as clearly as I can the complicated problem to be solved.

Nor do I feel it any part of my duty to make predictions. I

believe I am pretty well acquainted with the situation at the present moment, but what it may be a few weeks hence, when the words I am now writing issue from the press, I do not profess to foresee.

End

同类推荐
  • 金箓十回度人早朝转经仪

    金箓十回度人早朝转经仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • His Own People

    His Own People

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜀都杂抄

    蜀都杂抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • BARNABY RUDGE,80's Riots

    BARNABY RUDGE,80's Riots

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 涌幢小品

    涌幢小品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 华阳陶隐居集

    华阳陶隐居集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 异世卡斗

    异世卡斗

    一次穿越让他从闷骚宅男,变成了抢手货的高富帅!新奇的卡片世界,很像游戏的模式,契约,精灵,打斗,让姜军切切实实的游戏一回!突然的觉醒,让他熟悉这里规则,超萌的本命精灵更是让他赚足了美女的热吻!BUG卡片,更让他收获珍惜宠物!绝世魔龙,打到签契约!家族妹子,火炎圣女,冷艳小妞,也慢慢陷入他的魅力之中……
  • 全球顶级企业通用的8种营销管理方法

    全球顶级企业通用的8种营销管理方法

    选择最实用的方法,创建最优秀的企业!西方的市场营销早已走出了科特勒营销理论模式,逐渐向着多元化的方向发展。本书总结出企业通用的8种营销管理方法,每一种方法都是来自顶级企业的具体经验,同时又被其他成功企业反复借鉴和使用。
  • 纳尼亚传奇3:黎明号的远航(中文朗读版)

    纳尼亚传奇3:黎明号的远航(中文朗读版)

    《纳尼亚传奇》系列作品对后世作家影响深远,包括《哈利波特》系列的作者J·K·罗琳都曾表示自己深受C·S·刘易斯作品的影响。随着《纳尼亚传奇》系列故事改编成电影,全世界更多观众和读者开始认识这部不朽的作品。穿梭在一个又一个的纳尼亚冒险故事中,这绝对是你一生难忘的神奇旅程……
  • 忍界神路

    忍界神路

    苏少本来是火影粉,意外穿越到火影世界,可是距离那场毁天灭地的第四次忍界大战只有三年了,苏少突然觉得这里好危险,他只想回家……他做的一切,只有一个目的,回到自己的世界!
  • 怪物的篮球

    怪物的篮球

    第一本连自己都不想看的玩意,码文需谨慎,文笔什么的还是需要慢慢磨练啊。
  • 佛说阿难问事佛吉凶经

    佛说阿难问事佛吉凶经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 名门盛宠:教授新妻难招架

    名门盛宠:教授新妻难招架

    容家的太子爷抛弃了家族产业,跑去当了大学教授,据说是为了一个女人。五年后,这个女人却挽着别的男人手回来了。这下,容教授……怒了!“容少,我已经结婚了。”时思年的拒绝理由永远都这么钻心刺骨,然而容承璟却拉着她死缠烂打不放手,一个壁咚到墙角,耀眼的粉钻晃动人心。“结婚还可以离婚,离婚还可以再结婚。”待时过境迁,沧海桑田之后。刚参加完画展回来的时思年一推门,就看见家里的小包子“啪嗒”一声摔坏了最新研究出来的机器人。“儿砸,你爹地是研发机器人的,不摔白不摔啊。”话音刚落,就被一温暖的怀抱裹住,耳边尽是温柔缱绻。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • Some Short Christmas Stories

    Some Short Christmas Stories

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一枝白梅进墙来

    一枝白梅进墙来

    “我烧得糊涂,你要是要报答我的恩情,我现在也是说不出来的,就算说出来,我日后也是要反悔的。”眼前的小姑娘粉嫩的脸蛋红扑扑的,她吸了一下鼻涕,狠狠说道。“日后反悔也不要紧,你现在先说一个。”小男孩皱了皱眉头,稚嫩的脸上有着超乎年龄的沉稳,有一丝坚决之色。“那你给我一支白梅花吧。”还没退烧的她揉了揉眼睛,仿佛有几分困意,心不在焉道。“这里本就不生白梅。”小男孩眉头皱得更紧。“那你改日再给我吧。”她眯眼笑道。