Page:The Spirit of Russia by T G Masaryk, volume 2.pdf/250

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THE SPIRIT OF RUSSIA

doned evolution as well. Nevertheless, in the name of the church and of the autocracy a few shamefaced protests were made against Tihomirov's demand for blind obedience.

It was characteristic of the theocracy that it should seek its condottieri among renegades from the other camp (Katkov, Tihomirov, etc).

De Maistre paved the way for the Russian theocrats with his executioner, his glorification of the soldier, and his defence of the inquisition. De Maistre, too, anticipated Feuerbach by representing the monarchy as a true image of divine governance on earth.

Thus the Russian theocrats appear to us as westernisers, one might almost say absolute westernisers. It is the European theocrats and reactionaries who furnish their Russian congeners with a meagre store of intellectual provender; in return the Tihomirovs promise the European reactionaries that tsarism will bring help and rescue.