PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 57

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

A RUSSIAN REVOLUTION VOCABULARY.

The war is responsible for perhaps thousands of new words or old words with new meanings; and just as the French Revolution was responsible for many new words applied to political parties so is the Russian Revolution. In the former there arose the Girondins, Bressontins, Dantonists, Hebertists, Royalists, Terrorists, etc. ; and in the latter Ave have a bewildering assortment of parties changing with panoramic regularity/ In Munsey's Magazine for November there is an article by Willis J. Abbot, in which many of the Russian political names are explained, and this article is the basis of my Chat to-day. In his opening paragraph he says that the Russian upheaval is " the story of the greatest struggle for human liberty the world has witnessed since 1793 "; and of the terms brought into being, he s%ys, " some are international, having reached Russia by way of International Socialism; some are purely Russian, even Russian argot or slang." So to keep in touch with developments in the " great contest between democracy and autocracy, and between local self-government and foreign intrigue," it is necessary to have a general idea what the terms indicate, TWO GREAT REVOLUTIONS. But before I give an outline of a few of the more prominent terms touched upon, let us understand what a revolution means. In France it was a ch. ge from a monarchy to a chaotic democracy, which resolved itself into a Directory of five, followed by the Consulate, which Napoleon changed back to a Kingship, with, however, many of the former monarchical abuses swept away. This revolution went on from 1789 to 1795, to be followed by nearly 20 years of further fighting with. Napoleon against practically the whole of Europe, and in this respect suggesting a comparison with the present Kaiser waging a like conflict. Though the Kaiser has powerful allies, Napoleon had not, even when he was in the zenith of his power, for his allies were fugitive in time and alliance. Then there was the American War of Independence—should have been mentioned first, however, —which lasted eight years, but which required another six years to become firmly established. So a " revolution is not fully established until a new and enduring edifice is reared upon the ruins of the one overthrown."

Now apply to Russia what I have written. First, the parts of Russia—you remember my Chat a couple of months ago on the Disunited States of Russia?— have not so much in common as either the United States or France; nor is the educational condition of Russia so high in comparison with that of other nations, as was that of the peoples engaged in the two other revolutions referred to. So, though there are resemblances between the French and the American revolutions on the one side, and the present on the Nither, " we must watch the Russian revolution . a long time before we shall see the signs of . chaos disappear and an orderly State dawn upon the vision of the world." But is there any certainty that an orderly State' will emerge? May it not be a group of States, with little or no bond of unity, especially when we read what Lloyd George and President Wilson have said about small States? Again, is it not possible that before these States can settle their boundaries Prussian militarism may not get a more thorough grip upon the Baltic and the Black Sea "provinces ?'.. In any case, we cannot expect Russia to give us any assistance, excepting that it is possible for a, Russian army—ill-munitioned and ill-disciplined at best—to " hold" or " contain" more or fewer of the troops of the Central Powers, and to that extent lax pressurein North Italy, on the western front, or in Mesopotamia, Palestine, or the Balkan 3. By the bv, is it not possible that we may equip and employ Russians in Mesopotamia; Now for the Russian vocabulary. Camarilla.—This name applies* to the reactionary group of men and women who surrounded the Czar, and who allowed nothing they did not approve of to reach the Czar's eyes or ears. Some of these were pro-Germans, some were actuated by Conservative ideas, while others, " like the infamous Rasputin, were primarily interested in gaining as much power and wealth as possible for themselves and their friends." In "My Years in the Kaiser's Army " —a book I am reading just now l —the author refers to those surrounding the Crown Prince and those who control the Cadet Academy as being a Camarilla greatly feared. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the word is a Spanish one, meaning a cabal, or junto, so does not especially apply to any Russian group. Cadets or Constitutional Democrats. —A month or two ago we read of a general massacre of the Cadets. These form "the most influential Liberal party in Rursia." Formerly this party stood for a reformed constitutional monarchy, but developments caused them to adopt the Republic revolution, and when the revolution became an accomplished fact they held a national conference of 1500 delegates, representing all parts of Russia. They held a majority of seats in the first Duma, and also in succeeding ones, though their numbers were smaller. " The principal and bestknown leader is Professor Paul Milyukoff, | who was arrested on suspicion of sedition." The Duma. —This is an elective body, called into existence in August, 1905, " as a result of the popular uprising in that year." In October *' it received guarantees of freedom of speech, conscience, assembly, and association, and of inviolability of the person," but the kikp>

antees were not always kept. The fourth Duma elected in November, 1912, was in session at the time of the outbreak. Council oy Workmen axd Soldiers' Deputies.—This body was formed last March " by the organised workmen of the Russian capital to direct and develop the general strike then in its early stages. ... It was the directing force of the revolution," and has a touch of anarchisnv in its composition. Several similar organisations were formed in other cities; a national convention was held and a national organisation perfected, which is really taking precedence of the constitu-tionally-created Duma. Soviet.—The Russian word for cpuncil, and the word is frequently used to refer to the meetings of the council mentioned in the previous paragraph. Octobbjsts.—A political party with conservative tendencies coming into existence in October, 1905, as a result of ilie political upheaval when the Duma was created. Nationalists.—These were more conservative than the Octobriste. In 1909 they adopted a Pan-Slavic policy, and are strongly militaristic. One of these, Korensky, was recently Minister of War and of the Navy; and one of their bestknown leaders, Stolypin, was assassinated in 1911. Next week I may refer to a few more