ooked
with suspicion upon popular leaders. Her one object in life was to hand
on the Russian crown to her son, with no atom of its power diminished.
She surrounded herself and her husband with scoundrels and charlatans.

On the whole, the feeling among the Allies was one of relief. There was
a general distrust of the influences which had been surrounding the
Czar. The patriotism of the Grand Duke Michael was well known, and a
government conducted by him was sure to be a great improvement. But it
was not to be. Before the news of the abdication reached Petrograd a new
ministry had been formed by the Duma. Miliukov announced their names and
explained their credentials. The Prime Minister was Prince George Lvov.
Miliukov was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guchkov Minister of War and
Marine, Kerensky, a new name in the government, Minister of Justice. The
ministry included representatives of every party of the left and center.

Miliukov declared that their credentials came from the Russian
revolution: "We shall not fight for the sake of power. To be in power is
not a reward or pleasure but a sacrifice. As soon as we are told that
the sacrifice is no longer needed, we shall give up our places with
gratitude for the opportunity which has been accorded us."

He concluded by informing his hearers that the despot who had brought
Russia to the brink of ruin would either abdicate of his free will, or
be deposed. He added that the Grand Duke Michael would be appointed
Regent.

This announcement at once produced an explosion. A ministry of moderates
and a continuance of the Imperial government under a regency stirred the
delegates of the workmen and soldiers to revolt. For a time it seemed as
if the new government would disappear in the horrors of mob rule. But
Kerensky saved the situation. Making his way into the meeting of the
Soviet he burst into an impassioned speech.

"Comrades!" he cried, "I have been appointed Minister of Justice. No one
is a more ardent Republican than I, but we must bide our time. Nothing
can come to its full growth at once. We shall have our Republic but we
must first win the war. The need of the moment is organization and
discipline and that need will not wait."

His eloquence carried the day. The Soviet passed a resolution supporting
the provisional government with only fifteen dissenting votes. But it
had been made clear that the people did not approve of the regency, and
on the night of the 15th of