Page:The Proletarian Revolution in Russia - Lenin, Trotsky and Chicherin - ed. Louis C. Fraina (1918).djvu/50



Alongside of the Guchkov-Milyukov government, representing the imperialistic bougeoisiebourgeoisie [sic], there is developing a new, unofficial, as yet undeveloped and comparatively weak government, representing the interests of the proletariat and of the entire poorer elements of the city and country peculation. This is the government of the Soviets, the Councils of Workers and Soldiers' Delegates.

The actual facts in the political situation, on which we must base our Marxist tactics, are clear:

The monarchy of the Czar has been overthrown, but not as yet necessarily for good.

The Cadet, bourgeois government, wishing to carry on the imperialistic war "to the end," and in reality being the agent of the financial house of England, France & Co., was compelled to promise to the people the fullest measure of liberty and rights, compatible, however, with the preservation of power by this government and the carrying on of the war.

The Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Delegates constitutes the form of a government by the workers, and represents the interests of all the poorest of our people, of nine-tenths of the population, aiming to secure peace, bread and liberty.

The conflict between these forces defines the situation as it is at present, the transition stage from the first phase of the revolution to the second.

In order that there may be a real struggle against Czarism and its restoration, in order that the newly-won freedom may really be secured, and not exist simply in words and in the promises of rhetorical "liberals," it is necessary not that the workers should support the government, but that the government should support the workers! The only guarantee of liberty and of a complete abolition of Czarism is the arming of the proletariat, the strengthening, broadening, and development of the role and power of the Soviets of Work-