THE IDEA IS THE THING trial development has almost reached its highest point-and that in 'te fall the learned demonstrations of Karl Marx to the contrary. spiWeosee, then, that revolutions, though they cannot be made, can be hastened by certain factors; namely, _by pressure _from above: b more intense political and economical oppression ; and by p~essure from below : by greater enlighte1:1mentand agitation. These spread the ideas ~ they further evolution and thereby also the coming of revolution. But pressure from above, though hastening revolution, may also cause its failure, because such revolution. is apt to break out bef?re the evolutionary process has been sufficiently advanced. Commg prematurely, as .it were, it will fizzle out in mere rebellion; that is, without clear, conscious aim and purpose. At best, rebellion can secure only some temporary alleviation; the real causes of the strife, however, remain intact and continue to operate to the same ·effect, to cause further dissatisfaction and rebellion. Summing up what I have said about revolution, we must come to the conclusion that . (1) a social revolutiJn is one that entirely changes the foundation of society, its political, economic, and social character; ·(2) such a change must first take place in the ideas and opinions of the people, in the minds of men ; 1(3) ,oppression and misery may hasten revolution, but may thereby also turn it into failure, because lack of evolutionary preparation will make real accomplishment impossible; (4) only that revolution can be fundamental, social, and successful which will be the expression of a basic change of ideas and opinions. From this it obviously follows that the social revolution must be prepared. Prepared in the sense of furthering the evolutionary pr~cess, of enlightening the people about the evils of present-day ~1~ty and convincing them of the desirability and possibility, of the Justice and practicability of a social life based on liberty; prepared, moreover, by making the masses realise very clearly just what they need and how to bring it about. Such preparation is not only an absolu_telynecessary preliminary st ep. · There.in lies also the safety of the revolution, the only gu:rantee of its accomplishing its obj,ects. t has_been the -fate of most revolutions-as a result of lack ·of pr_eparatlon-to be side-tracked from their main purpose, to be ~rus':1seda~d led into blind alleys. Russia is the best reeent illusr~tthionof it. The February Revolution, which'sought to do away M ~OC~ . ] Y, was entirely successful. The people knew exact y B bhoteca G ro Bia'lco 49
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