The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1922. THE FATE OF THE MODERATE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 77, 31 March 1922, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1922. THE FATE OF THE MODERATE

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wtvng that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Tho attempted assassination of "Pro- ] fessor Miliukoil by Russian monarchists ] in Berlin recalls many memories and i starts many traine of thought. To most I people to whom the name means anything the crime will recall the days of I the first Russian revolution of 1917,1 when the moderate and constitutional elements tried in vain to save the country. If MiliukofT had been killed his fate would have been that of Russia in miniature. He belonged to the Liberal school in thought, and long before Lenin and Trotsky were heard of, ho had incurred the displeasure of the Czar's Government for his political views. Before the Duma, or Russian Parliament, was established hit. Liberalism had cost him professional positions in Russia and abroad, and when this instalment of representative Government was granted he returned to hie country and took an active and enthusiastic part in politics. The revolution of March, 1917, was largely the work of Miliukoil and hi* moderate colleagues, and he was a member of the first revolutionary Government. At first he was unwilling to abolish the Monarchy, but before the month was out he had declared for ft Republic. As Foreign Minister he declared that Russia must stand by her AU.ee, and that she meant to have Constantinople. Neither declaration pleased the Soviets and Miliukoil resigned. Indeed the Provisional Government had broken down, and though a new Coalition Government was formed, events were hurrying fast to the catastrophe. PcThaps if MiliukofT and his friends had been abler and stronger men they might have prevented the tragedy, but ihe possibility would seem to have been faint. They were victims of circumstances. They had aroused pasßions they could not control; they had let loose gigantic political and economic forces that ewept over the huge area of Russia like a hurricane. "Worthy, honest and patriotic, they had kept flying the banner of a reasonable freedom during the dark days," says Mr. Buchan of MiliukofT and his associates; "but they had failed in the past to achieve reform, and the memory of that failure clung to them. They were not by nature makers of revolutions. They lacked the fiery appeal, the daimonic personality, whieli awes and attracts large masses of men. Logical, capable, intensely respectable, they were also a little dull. They were wholly right in their perception of the needs of their country; but when an excited populace is clamouring for a new heaven and a new earth, it will not be I greatly attracted by a plan for sta.ble ' government."

j Such is the fate of the moderate in a I world where extreme passions get conI trol. He is swept away like a leaf. i That MiliukofT was a distinguished son lof Russia, and. had rendered fine service to freedom, counted for nothing in the eyes of the fanatics who soon gained complete mastery. Because he did not prostrate himself before the altar of Kajrl Marx, he was an enemy of the people, and unworthy of the slightest consideration. So Miliukoff went abroad and employed himself explaining Russia to the world. Now he has had ! the narrowest escape from death at the hands of Russian monarchists. Probably the crimfe has no political significance worth mentioning, but it is interesting as illustrating the perils that beset the moderate man. Miliukoff warred against the outrageous and senseless tyranny of Czardom, and was in consequence persecuted. Then, when the tyranny was overthrown, he was i driven from office by tbe rising tyranny lof Communism, and in exile the wheel ' turns again, and he is shot at by followers of the Czar. Thus is the man who seeks the middle path beset oy danger on two sides —the hate of those who will not move and of those who want to run before they can walk. In the end, however, his policy comes into its own. Its | author may have peTished long since in | the triangular struggle, but his ideal

of steady constitutional progress, of enlightened compromise, of freedom slowly broadening down, prevails. The fanatic may sometimes give the world a necessary stimulus, but he or his school have to retrace steps, and often it is the man of moderate tdews who saves the country from disaster and carries out wha-'- _i practicable i'l the fanatic's ideas.