The Maccabaean

must be based on inferences of past events. But no one can vouch for their validity, for we are always confronted with "unprecedented moments," with "factors," which are usually hidden in some obscure forms from where they are least expected to come.

I will endeavor to answer these question, but this time not in the usual order. I will commence with the last one first.

What can we expect of the Russian Revolution, what will be its color, what its character?

Wilat will 7260 1-5 0101, Wilal ils 11 . A priori, we accept it as a fact that the victory of the Russian Revolution is a fact, and that the new régime is safe and secure. We will not enter into any philosophic research, but will rest the discussion of these questions upon a few facts. Russia is a state of nationalities, and with the proclamation of equal civil rights alone the new government will not have done its full duty toward the national minorities which, under the old régime, suffered no less than the individual subjects as such. The liberation of the individual subjects without the liberation of the national group of which he is a part is only a partial liberation, and a government aspiring to be modern and to exist upon a sound basis, must not permit the prevalence of discontent among large masses. It is, therefore, difficult to conceive that the new Russian Government in which liberal aspirations have such an important place, will ignore the demands of the national minorities.

We have sufficient evidence to believe that the new régime will exert every effort to adjust the question

of nationalities in the Russian State, not on the basis of power and dominance, but on the basis of the universal principles of justice and liberty. Just because Russia has been so late in passing through the refining process, it must introduce the most modern reforms.

reforms. Furthermore, eleven years ago, when after the revolt of 1905, the Union for Equal Rights for Jews was organized, earnest discussions took place as to the formulation of the Jewish demands. Hardly one of the organizers of this union accepted the viewpoint of the assimilationists. There were a few who offered the counsel of prudence political rights and the relegation of the national question to a later period. This counsel was overwhelmingly rejected, and the program was formulated to include national, political, and civil rights.

If we take into consideration that eleven years ago, when, in spite of the fact that there was faith in the power and permanency of the new formula, it was clear that every liberalizing effort would have to reckon with the same imperialistic government, the representatives of the Jewish people were not affrighted and clearly formulated their national demands; if we take into further consideration that during the past eleven years the national consciousness of the Jewish people has been even more highly developed, and that now they are confronted by a new and liberal government—then we may anticipate that our brethren in Russia, will now defend their national position with more firmness than ever.