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TOLSTOY THE BYZANTINE
109

masses who believe in Christianity do not believe in reform, and their religion is being exploited in the interests of a corrupt bureaucracy and of an effete Church.


II

There lies, to my mind, the deep-seated cause of the ghastly failure of the abortive Revolution of 1905. When, eight years ago, Russia from the Baltic to the Pacific was convulsed by Civil War, publicists confidently foretold the imminent downfall of Tsardom and the triumph of liberty. I had not been a month in Russia when I as confidently predicted that absolutely nothing would happen, and that reaction would emerge from the crisis more powerful than ever. I realized that an absolute divorce existed between the people and its supposed leaders. I realized that a band of agnostic doctrinaires would never move a profoundly religious people. But whilst realizing the helplessness of the present outlook, I felt equally hopeful for the future. I felt that the day would soon come when the tremendous spiritual forces latent in the people would be released, when those inarticulate millions would find their own spokesmen and leaders. Then