26 September 1917. John Reed

Petrograd, Russian Republic

Monarchists, of various shades, Octobrists, etc. These once-powerful factions no longer existed openly; they either worked underground, or their members joined the Cadets, as the Cadetscame by degrees to stand for their political programme. Representatives in this book, Rodzianko, Shulgin.

Cadets. So-called from the initials of its name, Constitutional Democrats. Its official name is “Party of the People’s Freedom.” Under the Tsar composed of Liberals from the propertied classes, the Cadets were the great party of political reform, roughly corresponding to the Progressive Party in America. When the Revolution broke out in March, 1917, the Cadets formed the first Provisional Government. The Cadet Ministry was overthrown in April because it declared itself in favour of Allied imperialistic aims, including the imperialistic aims of the Tsar’s Government. As the Revolution became more and more a social economic Revolution, the Cadets grew more and more conservative. Its representatives in this book are: Miliukov, Vinaver, Shatsky.

Group of Public Men. After the Cadets had become unpopular through their relations with the Kornilov counter-revolution, the Group of Public Men was formed in Moscow. Delegates from the Group of Public Men were given portfolios in the last Kerensky Cabinet. The Group declared itself non-partisan, although its intellectual leaders were men like Rodzianko and Shulgin. It was composed of the more “modern” bankers, merchants and manufacturers, who were intelligent enough to realise that the Soviets must be fought by their own weapon—economic organisation. Typical of the Group: Lianozov, Konovalov.

Populist Socialists, or Trudoviki (Labour Group). Numerically a small party, composed of cautious intellectuals, the leaders of the Cooperative societies, and conservative peasants. Professing to be Socialists, the Populists really supported the interests of the petty bourgeoisie—clerks, shopkeepers, etc. By direct descent, inheritors of the compromising tradition of the Labour Group in the Fourth Imperial Duma, which was composed largely of peasant representatives. Kerensky was the leader of the Trudoviki in the Imperial Duma when the Revolution of March, 1917, broke out. The Populist Socialists are a nationalistic party. Their representatives in this book are: Peshekhanov, Tchaikovsky.

Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. Originally Marxian Socialists. At a party congress held in 1903, the party split, on the question of tactics, into two factions—the Majority (Bolshinstvo), and the Minority (Menshinstvo). From this sprang the names “Bolsheviki” and “Mensheviki”—“members of the majority” and “members of the minority.” These two wings became two separate parties, both calling themselves “Russian Social Democratic Labour Party,” and both professing to be Marxians. Since the Revolution of 1905 the Bolsheviki were really the minority, becoming again the majority in September, 1917.

Mensheviki. This party includes all shades of Socialists who believe that society must progress by natural evolution toward Socialism, and that the working-class must conquer political power first. Also a nationalistic party. This was the party of the Socialist intellectuals, which means: all the means of education having been in the hands of the propertied classes, the intellectuals instinctively reacted to their training, and took the side of the propertied classes. Among their representatives in this book are: Dan, Lieber, Tseretelli.

Mensheviki Internationalists. The radical wing of the Mensheviki, internationalists and opposed to all coalition with the propertied classes; yet unwilling to break loose from the conservative Mensheviki, and opposed to the dictatorship of the working-class advocated by the Bolsheviki. Trotzky was long a member of this group. Among their leaders: Martov, Martinov.

Bolsheviki. Now call themselves the Communist Party, in order to emphasise their complete separation from the tradition of “moderate” or “parliamentary” Socialism, which dominates the Mensheviki and the so-called Majority Socialists in all countries. The Bolsheviki proposed immediate proletarian insurrection, and seizure of the reins of Government, in order to hasten the coming of Socialism by forcibly taking over industry, land, natural resources and financial institutions. This party expresses the desires chiefly of the factory workers, but also of a large section of the poor peasants. The name “Bolshevik” can not be translated by “Maximalist.” The Maximalists are a separate group. Among the leaders: Lenin, Trotzky, Lunatcharsky.

United Social Democrats Internationalists. Also called the Novaya Zhizn (New Life) group, from the name of the very influential newspaper which was its organ. A little group of intellectuals with a very small following among the working-class, except the personal following of Maxim Gorky, its leader. Intellectuals, with almost the same programme as the Mensheviki Internationalists, except that the Novaya Zhizn group refused to be tied to either of the two great factions. Opposed the Bolshevik tactics, but remained in the Soviet Government. Other representatives in this book: Avilov, Kramarov.

Yedinstvo. A very small and dwindling group, composed almost entirely of the personal following of Plekhanov, one of the pioneers of the Russian Social Democratic movement in the 80’s, and its greatest theoretician. Now an old man, Plekhanov was extremely patriotic, too conservative even for the Mensheviki. After the Bolshevik coup d’etat, Yedinstvo disappeared.

Socialist Revolutionary party. Called Essaires from the initials of their name. Originally the revolutionary party of the peasants, the party of the Fighting Organisations—the Terrorists. After the March Revolution, it was joined by many who had never been Socialists. At that time it stood for the abolition of private property in land only, the owners to be compensated in some fashion. Finally the increasing revolutionary feeling of peasants forced the Essaires to abandon the “compensation” clause, and led to the younger and more fiery intellectuals breaking off from the main party in the fall of 1917 and forming a new party, the Left Socialist Revolutionary party. The Essaires, who were afterward always called by the radical groups “Right Socialist Revolutionaries,”adopted the political attitude of the Mensheviki, and worked together with them. They finally came to represent the wealthier peasants, the intellectuals, and the politically uneducated populations of remote rural districts. Among them there was, however, a wider difference of shades of political and economic opinion than among the Mensheviki. Among their leaders mentioned in these pages: Avksentiev, Gotz, Kerensky, Tchernov, “Babuschka” Breshkovskaya.

Left Socialist Revolutionaries. Although theoretically sharing the Bolshevik programme of dictatorship of the working-class, at first were reluctant to follow the ruthless Bolshevik tactics. However, the Left Socialist Revolutionaries remained in the Soviet Government, sharing the Cabinet portfolios, especially that of Agriculture. They withdrew from the Government several times, but always returned. As the peasants left the ranks of the Essaires in increasing numbers, they joined the Left Socialist Revolutionary party, which became the great peasant party supporting the Soviet Government, standing for confiscation without compensation of the great landed estates, and their disposition by the peasants themselves. Among the leaders: Spiridonova, Karelin, Kamkov, Kalagayev.

Maximalists. An off-shoot of the Socialist Revolutionary party in the Revolution of 1905, when it was a powerful peasant movement, demanding the immediate application of the maximum Socialist programme. Now an insignificant group of peasant anarchists.

, and others

Like

Comment

Ivan Bunin

Glovo village, Russian Republic

It is very cold in the morning, I was behind the garden, leaves were flying from the maple trees, I picked one up.

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Rurik Ivnev

Petrograd, Russian Republic

Despite all the horror, which reigns all around, despite the humiliation of the Russian people and the pain of Russia, how happy I am, that I am Russian and Orthodox.

, and others

4 Like

Comment

Nicholas Roerich

works on «Birds of the morning»

Izvara estate, Russian Republic

, and others

4 Like

Comment

Viktor Chernov

mansion of von Derviz, 27, Galernaya str., Petrograd, Russian Republic

Those who consider the establishment of a socialist government to mean the establishment of socialism are gravely mistaken. Even if the government will consist exclusively of socialists, it should anyway be based on a definitive programme, worked out by the Democratic Conference; there can be no socialism until the gathering of the Constituent Assembly. See more

, and others

Like

Comment

Antoni Gaudi

designs the Passion Façade of Sagrada Familia

Carreter del Carmel, 23, Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Harry Kessler

Frankfurt am Main, German Empire

Libertas in Imperio. A people can only be free if it is not subjected to pressure from without. This is the complete antipode to the old-fashioned, moss-covered approach whereby external pressure is used to suppress internal freedom. The question is only whether all peoples can simultaneously be free or whether they can only be so in turn. See more

, and others

Like

Comment

Nicholas II

Tobolsk, Russian Republic

It rained for half the day but it was warm. I finished the book On the Mountain and began a novel by Leskov. At 9 o'clock in the evening, church services were held for us in the hall. We went to bed early.

, and others

Like

Comment

Olga Paley

House with services and a garden on Pashkov Lane, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Republic

Our captivity lasted eighteen days. As long as we kept to our rooms they left us in peace and our life did not seem much changed, but the moment we wished to move out and take the air our vexations began. See more

, and others

Like

Comment

Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Gatchina, Russian Republic

No one knows why we are under arrest, and, of course, no charges were, nor for that matter could have been, filed. Where is the guarantee that this will not happen again. Koz’min is making a very good impression: ideological, modest and intelligent.

, and others

Like

Comment

Petrogradskaya Gazeta

Petrograd, Russian Republic

News is coming from Finland that in the very near future the Swedish border is to be shut.

This measure is being proposed in light of warnings of a big flood of Russian emigrants and is connected with the food crisis in Sweden.

, and others

Like

Comment

25 September

Tourist overflow in Crimea

Stalin accuses foreigners of a conspiracy with Kornilov

Former Empress misses her days as a nurse