The Russian Revolution; The Jugo-Slav Movement — John Shaqi
The Russian Revolution; The Jugo-Slav MovementPetrunkevitch, Alexander
History
The Russian Revolution; The Jugo-Slav Movement
Petrunkevitch, Alexander
Soviet Union -- History -- Revolution, 1917-1921; Soviet Union -- Politics and government -- 1917-1936; Yugoslavs
Nothing is more instructive than the rapid change in the position which
the Constitutional Democratic party occupied in the eyes of the people
after the revolution. Before the outbreak of hostilities all parties
were against war. But soon, under the influence of the German methods
of warfare in Belgium, France, and Russia, the feeling changed. Even the
Mensheviki among the Social-Democrats declared themselves in favor of
war and the only party remaining firm in condemning all war was that
of the Bolsheviki. The entrance of the Turks into the war was almost
considered a godsend by the Constitutional Democrats, Octoberists,
and Conservatives in the Duma because it cleared the way for a final
settlement of the Balkan problem and promised the elimination of Turkey
from Europe. Long after Sazonov was removed, when the consent of England
and France to give Russia free hand in Constantinople and the Straits
was read in a telegram before the Duma, a general outburst of enthusiasm
took place, the members demanding to know why Sazonov, who was justly
credited with this achievement, was in retirement and not in charge
of the foreign office which he should have held by right. Miliukov's
speeches and writings on the future settlement of the Balkan problem
were jokingly spoken of as his dissertation for the degree of foreign
secretary. At home the party was pursuing a policy of patient endurance,
postponing strife for the future until the crimes of the tsar's
government made further silence impossible. At that time the whole
tissue of treason was not yet known, but enough was in evidence
to demand vigorous protest. Not being a revolutionary party the
Constitutional Democrats abstained from any action not strictly within
the law and merely condemned the activity of the Government. They
desired amelioration of the fundamental laws, but even that they would
have preferred to accomplish by persuasion rather than by force. In fact
they considered socialist demands unreasonable, socialization of Russia
premature, and any violent overthrow unwise and hazardous. For the
latter opinion they found support in the failure of the uprising of
the working class in 1905-06, when the punitive expeditions proved the
loyalty of the army to the throne. Consequently the attitude of the army
in the memorable days of the March revolution was a great surprise to
them. At the same time they attributed to themselves the lion share in
the overthrow, presumably on the ground that masses follow leaders and
the Constitutional \ Democrats were the only ones who had a chance for
open protest in the Duma and made use of it. This delusion led to a
series of tactical errors and cost them dearly. In all elections they
polled a comparatively small vote. Trying to save Russia for the Allies
they failed to meet the Russian Socialists on their own ground and were
forced to explain away differences of opinion much too thoroughgoing
to be explained away. In a country which is in the throes of the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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