This  hesitating  attitude  on  the  part  of  the  Government  encour-
aged other  sections  of  the  educated  classes  to  give  expression  to
their  long  pent-up  political  aspirations.  On  the  heels  of  the
Zemstvo  delegates  appeared  the  barristers,  who  discussed  the  exist-
ing evils  from  the  juridical  point  of  view,  and  prescribed  what
they  considered  the  necessary  remedies.  Then  came  municipalities
of  the  large  towns,  corporations  of  various  kinds,  academic  leagues,
medical  faculties,  learned  societies,  and  miscellaneous  gatherings,
all  demanding  reforms.  Great  banquets  were  organised,  and  very
strong  speeches,  which  would  have  led  in  Plehve's  time  to  the
immediate  arrest  of  the  orators,  were  delivered  and  published
without  provoking  police  intervention.
In  the  memorandum  presented  to  the  Minister  of  the  Interior
by  the  Zemstvo  Congress,  and  in  the  resolutions  passed  by  the
other  corporate  bodies,  we  see  reflected  the  grievances  and  aspira-
tions of  the  great  majority  of  the  educated  classes.
