The writer described in vivid colours the mutual hostility which reigned among various fractions of the party, and which manifested itself in accusations and even in denunciations; and he predicted that the Narodnaya Volya, which had organised the various acts of terrorism culminating in the assassination of the Emperor, would never develop into a powerful revolutionary party.  It had sunk into the slough of untruth, and it could only continue to deceive the Government and the public.

In the mutual recriminations several interesting admissions were made.  It was recognised that neither the educated classes nor the common people were capable of bringing about a revolution:  the former were not numerous enough, and the latter were devoted to the Tsar and did not sympathise with the revolutionary movement, though they might perhaps be induced to rise at a moment of crisis.  It was considered doubtful whether such a rising was desirable, because the masses, being insufficiently prepared, might turn against the educated minority.  In no case could a popular insurrection attain the object which the Socialists had in view, because the power would either remain in the hands of the Tsar—­thanks to the devotion of the common people—­or it would fall into the hands of the Liberals, who would oppress the masses worse than the autocratic Government had done.  Further, it was recognised that acts of terrorism were worse than useless, because they were misunderstood by the ignorant, and tended to inflame the masses against the leaders.  It seemed necessary, therefore, to return to a pacific propaganda.  Tikhomirof, who was nominally directing the movement from abroad, became utterly discouraged, and wrote in 1884 to one of his emissaries in Russia (Lopatin):  “You now see Russia, and can convince yourself that it does not possess the material for a vast work of reorganisation. . . .  I advise you seriously not to make superhuman efforts and not to make a scandal in attempting the impossible. . . .  If you do not want to satisfy yourself with trifles, come away and await better times.”

In examining the material relating to this period one sees clearly that the revolutionary movement had got into a vicious circle.  As pacific propaganda had become impossible, in consequence of the opposition of the authorities and the vigilance of the police, the Government could be overturned only by a general insurrection; but the general insurrection could not be prepared without pacific propaganda.  As for terrorism, it had become discredited.  Tikhomirof himself came to the conclusion that the terrorist idea was altogether a mistake, not only morally, but also from the point of view of political expediency.  A party, he explained, has either the force to overthrow the Government, or it has not; in the former case it has no need of political assassination, and in the latter the assassinations have no effect, because Governments are not so stupid as to let themselves