IV

POLITICS

3 11

Yet the elation, when that is felt, is verygreat. Here—one feels at moments—in spiteof povertyj stupidity, and oppression, is theLaboratory of Life. Here the chemicals arebeing mixed in new combinations, and stinkand explode. Something—there is just achance—might come out. And even a chancegives to what is happening in Russia more im-portance than what is happening (let us say)in the United States of America .

I think that it is partly reasonable to be afraidof Russia , like the gentlemen who write to TheTimes. But if Russia is going to be a forcein the outside world, it will not be the resultof Mr. ZinoviefFs money. Russia will nevermatter seriously to the rest of us, unless it be asa moral force. So, now the deeds are done andthere is no going back, I should like to giveRussia her chance; to help and not to hinder.For how much rather, even after allowing foreverything, if I were a Russian, would I con-tribute my quota of activity to Soviet Russia than to Tsarist Russia! I could not subscribeto the new official faith any more than to the old.I should detest the actions of the new tyrantsnot less than those of the old. But I shouldfeel that my eyes were turned towards, and nolonger away from, the possibilities of things;that out of the cruelty and stupidity of OldRussia nothing could ever emerge, but thatbeneath the cruelty and stupidity of New Russia some speck of the ideal may lie hid.