bribed by the capitalistic
interests of America, England, and France. Needless to say that the
accusations had no basis whatever in actual facts and represent simply
an ugly outgrowth of misguided jealousy of the masses to guard their
dearly won right to a social revolution against those whom they consider
the worst enemies of socialism, and the desire of unscrupulous leaders
to profit by it. Thus the Socialist-revolutionists were gradually
relegated in the mind of the extremists to the great body of the hated
"bourgeois." Only in their rightful element, among the peasants, they
continue to enjoy a great deal of popularity, and the returns to the
Constituent Assembly show that theirs will be the absolute majority even
though they lost some of their popularity.

The progress of the Russian Revolution presents a sad spectacle of an
almost complete failure on the part of the majority of intellectuals to
understand the spirit of the times and to guide the masses through the
labyrinth of errors. In days past the Russian intellectuals were the
forefighters for freedom and the Russian people will ever be indebted
to them for this. They prepared the soil for the revolution by spreading
ideas of freedom by all means at their disposal. They weakened the
tsar's power and thus contributed to its overthrow by persistent attacks
upon the system of autocratic government. They helped to awaken the
spirit of self-consciousness in the masses. But they did not evolve new
principles. They did not open wide avenues for the development of a
new order of social organization. They misunderstood the masses and
consequently were unable to control the forces set loose. And if Russia
is going to be saved from utter ruin amidst the clamor and strife of
party leaders and to evolve a new democratic system, it will be due not
to the intellectuals, but to the great spirit of the dark masses of the
Russian peasants.

FORCES BEHIND THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION FORCES BEHIND THE RUSSIAN
REVOLUTION

By Samuel N. Harper

One was struck by the remarkable unity that characterized the short
first period of the Russian Revolution of last March. One knew, however,
that there were two distinct sets of forces behind the movement,
operating through two kinds of organizations. There were first the
already existing and parliamentary institutions which had become
revolutionary in spirit and methods of action. On the other hand there
were the institutions produ