RUSSIAN “INTELLECTUALS.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1737, 6 October 1917, Page 1

RUSSIAN “INTELLECTUALS.”

The s(ranges! people in the world ■ire trying to seize the veins of (>ower in Russia, says an English wriler. They are known as the “Inlelligenzia”- —Hie Ini ellechmis—and it is from their ranks that most of the lenders of the revolution anr m-ruited. It is impossible to live for any time among Russians without coming into contact with the Intelligenzia and their ialluence. For 50 years and more have they made (heir mark on Russia’s internal politics. Now for the lirst time their influence is world-wide. The Russian peasantry is dumb, the middle classes and bureaucracy are mule —for the times are 100 dangerous for lliem—-Ihe industrial workmen are clamouring for devolulionary aHion, and (lie Inieiligenzia alone is articulate. A. member of (he Intelligenzia, Ananlole Lamanoff by name, is playing tsic part of "young Napoleon at Krondadl; the workmen’s councils arc rim by the Intelligenzia ; it is the Intelligenzia alone that is interested in abstract qpeslions of war aims and holding up lighting for the sake of discussion. A typical member of the Intelligenzia is 18 years old, but already 1m roads quite easily Busdan, French, Borman, Latin, ami ■ reek, lie is studying law, and as „i side lino lias taken up chemistry; ho is abreast with the writers of the day on psychology and political economy; is stooped in revolutionary economies and political theories. In short, a youthful encyclopedia of miscellaneous knowledge. Full of theories —what lo do with religion, the host system of land tenure, Hit advisability of dispensing with money, the right way to educate children, (be influence of Bernard Shaw; lo be brief, every possible theory on every conceivable subject, and not a’ pennyworth of com-mon-sense. And now the revolution lias given him and perhaps a million —maybe two millions—-of bis kind the long-looked-for opportunity. What are they going to do with it / Do they really mean to put their theories lo the test/ 'Russia at heart is sound. Quite Itio,(>()(),000 Russians have not even the slightest idea what the Intelligenzia is talking about, but Russia is still inarticulate. At the present time the only talkers are these people, and as they are full of fine theories they are hound to have a big following.