has caused their rise in power during the first two months of the
revolution of 1917. But tactical errors committed by the leaders of the
party as well as dissensions within the party itself contributed to a
rather rapid change of sentiment toward them on all sides. In a measure as
the Constitutional Democrats vigorously objected to their policy to put
into life as soon as possible the agrarian reforms promised by them, the
Social-Democrats on their part attacked them for their moderation in other
demands. For some reason not yet clear, Kerensky was slighted in the very
beginning of his political career when his nomination to the executive
council of the Socialist-revolutionist party was opposed by a large
majority. Just as the Constitutional Democrats made a series of tactical
errors due to the fact that they thought themselves representative of the
spirit of the Russian people, whereas in reality they stood sponsors only
for a relatively small minority, even so the Socialist-revolutionists
misjudged the attitude of other parties toward themselves. They overrated
the ability of the masses to distinguish between their attitude toward war
in general and the necessity to continue the present war. They overrated
the ability of the soldiers to distinguish between slavish obedience and
military discipline. They tried to play the role of a center. They tried to
mediate between Social-Democrats and Constitutional Democrats and naturally
failed in this attempt. Some of their leaders, notably Mr. Tschernov, were
accused by Constitutional Democrats of being pro-German if not actual
German agents. Others, including Kerensky himself and even Mme.
Breshkovsky, were accused by the Bolsheviki of having been almost bribed by
the capitalistic interests of America, England, and France. Needless to say
that the accusations had no basis whatever in actual facts and represent
simply an ugly outgrowth of misguided jealousy of the masses to guard their
dearly won right to a social revolution against those whom they consider
the worst enemies of socialism, and the desire of unscrupulous leaders to
profit by it. Thus the Socialist-revolutionists were gradually relegated in