“…. The power of the Soviets is not democratic power, but a dictatorship—and not the dictatorship of the proletariat, but _against_ the proletariat. All those who have felt or know how to feel revolutionary enthusiasm must join now for the defence of the Revolution…. “The problem of the day is not only to render harmless irresponsible demagogues, but to fight against the counter-revolution…. If rumours are true that certain generals in the provinces are attempting to profit by events in order to march on Petrograd with other designs, it is only one more proof that we must establish a solid base of democratic government. Otherwise, troubles with the Right will follow troubles from the Left…. “The garrison of Petrograd cannot remain indifferent when citizens buying the _Golos Soldata_ and newsboys selling the _Rabotchaya Gazeta_ are arrested in the streets…. “The hour of resolutions has passed…. Let those who have no longer faith in the Revolution retire…. To establish a united power, we must again restore the prestige of the Revolution…. “Let us swear that either the Revolution shall be saved—or we shall perish!” The hall rose, cheering, with kindling eyes. There was not a single proletarian anywhere in sight…. Then Weinstein: “We must remain calm, and not act until public opinion is firmly grouped in support of the Committee for Salvation—then we can pass from the defensive to action!” The _Vikzhel_ representative announced that his organisation was taking the initiative in forming the new Government, and its delegates were now discussing the matter with Smolny…. Followed a hot discussion: were the Bolsheviki to be admitted to the new Government? Martov pleaded for their admission; after all, he said, they represented an important political party. Opinions were very much divided upon this, the right wing Mensheviki and Socialist Revolutionaries, as well as the Populist Socialists, the Cooperatives and the bourgeois elements being bitterly against…. “They have betrayed Russia,” one speaker said. “They have started civil war and opened the front to the Germans. The Bolsheviki must be mercilessly crushed….” Skobeliev was in favor of excluding both the Bolsheviki and the Cadets. We got into conversation with a young Socialist Revolutionary, who had walked out of the Democratic Conference together with the Bolsheviki, that night when Tseretelli and the “compromisers” forced Coalition upon the democracy of Russia. “You here?” I asked him. His eyes flashed fire. “Yes!” he cried. “I left the Congress with my party Wednesday night. I have not risked my life for twenty years and more to submit now to the tyranny of the Dark People. Their methods are intolerable. But they have not counted on the peasants…. When the peasants begin to act, then it is a question of minutes before they are done for.” “But the peasants—will they act? Doesn’t the Land decree settle the peasants? What more do they want?”