It is not only Petroff that has abandoned his strong position of “No politics”; Gapon is doing likewise.  The movement has spread far beyond what he expected, and he is being carried away by the prevailing excitement.  With all his benevolent intentions, he is of a nervous, excitable nature, and his besetting sin is vanity.  He perceives that by resisting the Social Democrats he is losing his hold on the masses.  Early in the week, as we have seen, he began to widen his programme in the Social Democratic sense, and every day he makes new concessions.  Before the week is finished a Social Democratic orator can write triumphantly:  “In three days we have transformed the Gaponist assemblies into political meetings!” Like Petroff, Gapon seeks to defend the Tsar, and he falls into Petroff’s strategical mistake of pretending that the Tsar knows nothing of the sufferings of his people.  From that admission to the resolution that the Tsar must somehow be informed personally and directly, by some means outside of the regular official channel, there is but one step, and that step is quickly taken.  On Friday morning Gapon has determined to present with his own hands a petition to his Majesty, and the petition is already drafted, containing demands which go far beyond workmen’s grievances.  After resisting the Social Democratic agitators so stoutly, he is now going over, bag and baggage, to the Social Democratic camp.

This wonderful change was consummated on Friday evening at a conference which he held with some delegates of the Social Democrats.  From an account written by one of these delegates immediately after the meeting we get an insight into the worthy priest’s character and motives.  In the morning he had written to them:  “I have 100,000 workmen, and I am going with them to the Palace to present a petition.  If it is not granted, we shall make a revolution.  Do you agree?” They did not like the idea, because the Social Democratic policy is to extort concessions, not to ask favours, and to refrain from anything that might increase the prestige of the Autocratic Power.  In their reply, therefore, they consented simply to discuss the matter.  I proceed now to quote from the delegate’s account of what took place at the conference: 

“The company consisted of Gapon, with two adherents, and five Social Democrats.  All sat round a table, and the conversation began.  Gapon is a good-looking man, with dark complexion and thoughtful, sympathetic face.  He is evidently very tired, and, like the other orators, he is hoarse.  To the questions addressed to him, he replies:  ’The masses are at present so electrified that you may lead them wherever you like.  We shall go on Sunday to the Palace, and present a petition.  If we are allowed to pass without hindrance, we shall march to the Palace Square, and summon the Tsar from Tsarskoe Selo.  We shall wait for him till the evening.  When he arrives, I shall go to him with a deputation, and