ieving that he is a "fanatic by reflection," not by
temperament[229]. A volume of _Reflections_ which he has given to the
world contains some entertaining judgments on the civilisation of the
West. It may be worth while to select a few, as showing the views of the
man who, through his pupil, influenced the fate of Russia and of
the world.

[Footnote 229: _Russia under Alexander III._, by H. von
Samson-Himmelstierna, Eng. ed. ch. vii.]

Parliament is an institution serving for the satisfaction of
the personal ambition, vanity, and self-interest of its
members. The institution of Parliament is indeed one of the
greatest illustrations of human delusion. . . . On the pediment
of this edifice is inscribed, "All for the public good." This
is no more than a lying formula: Parliamentarism is the
triumph of egoism--its highest expression. . . .

From the day that man first fell, falsehood has ruled the
world--ruled it in human speech, in the practical business of
life, in all its relations and institutions. But never did
the Father of Lies spin such webs of falsehood of every kind
as in this restless age. . . . The press is one of the falsest
institutions of our time.

In the chapter "Power and Authority" the author holds up to the gaze of
a weary world a refreshing vision of a benevolent despotism which will
save men in spite of themselves.

Power is the depository of truth, and needs, above all
things, men of truth, of clear intellects, of strong
understandings, and of sincere speech, who know the limits of
"yes" and "no," and never transcend them, etc[230].

[Footnote 230: _Pobyedonosteff; his Reflections_, Eng. ed.]

To this Muscovite Laud was now entrusted the task of drafting a
manifesto in the interests of "power" and "truth."

Meanwhile the Nihilists themselves had helped on the cause of reaction.
Even before the funeral of Alexander II. their executive committee had
forwarded to his successor a document beseeching him to give up
arbitrary power and to take the people into his confidence. While
purporting to impose no conditions, the Nihilist chiefs urged him to
remember that two measures were needful preliminaries to any general
pacification, namely, a general amnesty of all political offenders, as
being merely "executors of a hard civic duty"; and "the convocation of
representatives of all the Russian people for a revision an