Discontent manifested itself also among the soldiers of the Preobrajenski and Litovsky regiments, and others. In this manner in the day of the meeting of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly they were no longer very numerous. What loud cries, nevertheless, they had sent forth lately when Kerensky wished to send the Preobrajenski and Seminovski regiments from Petrograd! "What?
Send the revolutionary regiments from Petrograd? To make easier the surrender of the capital to the counter-revolution?" The soldiers of the Preobrajenski Regiment organized in their barracks frequent meetings, where the acts of the Bolsheviki were sharply criticized; they started a paper, _The Soldiers" Cloak_, which was confiscated.
On the other hand, here is one of the resolutions voted by the workers of the Putilov factory:
The Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly is the only organ expressing the will of the entire people. It alone is able to reconst.i.tute the unity of the country.
The majority of the deputies to the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly who had for some time been elected had arrived in Petrograd, and the Bolsheviki always r.e.t.a.r.ded the opening. The Socialist-Revolutionist fraction started conferences with the other fractions on the necessity for fixing a day for the opening of the Const.i.tuante, without waiting the good pleasure of the Commissaries of the People. They chose the date, December 27th, but the opening could not take place on that day, the Ukrainian fraction having suddenly abandoned the majority to join themselves to the Bolsheviki and the Revolutionary Socialists of the Left. Finally, the government fixed the opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly for the 5th (18th) of January.
Here is a doc.u.ment which relates this fight for the date of the opening of the Const.i.tuante:
_Bulletin of Members of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly Belonging to the Socialist-Revolutionist Fraction. No. 5, Dec. 31, 1917._
_To All the Citizens_:
The Socialist-Revolutionist fraction of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly addresses the whole people the present expose of the reasons for which the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly has not been opened until this day: it warns them, at the same time, of the danger which threatens the sovereign rights of the people.
Let it be thus placed in clear daylight, the true character of those who, under pretext of following the well-being of the workers, forge new chains for liberated Russia, those who attempt to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly, which alone is able to save Russia from the foreign yoke and from the despotism which has been born within.
Let all the citizens know that the hour is near when they must be ready to rise like one man for the defense of their liberty and their Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly.
For, citizens, your salvation is solely in your own hands.
Citizens! you know that on the day a.s.signed for the opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly, November 28th, all the Socialist-Revolutionist deputies who were elected had come to Petrograd. You know that neither violence of a usurping power nor arrests of our comrades, by force of arms which were opposed to us at the Taurida Palace, could prevent us from a.s.sembling and fulfilling our duty.
But the civil war which has spread throughout the country r.e.t.a.r.ded the election to the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly and the number of deputies elected was insufficient.
It was necessary to postpone the opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly.
Our fraction utilized this forced delay by an intensive preparatory work. We elaborated, in several commissions, projects of law concerning all the fundamental questions that the Const.i.tuante would have to solve. We adopted the project of our fundamental law on the question of the land; we elaborated the measures which the Const.i.tuante would have to take from the very first day in order to arrive at a truly democratic peace, so necessary to our country; we discussed the principles which should direct the friendly dwelling together of all the nationalities which people Russia and a.s.sure each people a national point of view, the free disposition of itself, thus putting an end to the fratricidal war.
Our fraction would have been all ready for the day of the opening of the Const.i.tuante, in order to commence, from the first, a creative work and give to the impoverished country peace, bread, land, and liberty.
At the same time, we did our utmost to accelerate the arrival of the deputies and the opening of the a.s.sembly.
During this time events became more and more menacing every day, the Bolshevik power was more rapidly leading our country to its fall. From before the time when the Germans had presented their conditions of peace the Bolsheviki had destroyed the army, suppressed its provisioning, and stripped the front, while at the same time by civil war and the looting of the savings of the people they achieved the economic ruin of the country. Actually, they recognized themselves that the German conditions were unacceptable and invited the reconstruction of the army. In spite of this, these criminals do not retire; they will achieve their criminal work.
Russia suffers in the midst of famine, of civil war, and enemy invasion which threatens to reach even the heart of the country.
No delay is permissible.
Our fraction fixed on the 27th of December the last delay for the opening of the Const.i.tuante; on this day more than half of the deputies could have arrived in Petrograd. We entered into conference with the other fractions. The Ukrainians, some other national fractions, and the Menshevik Social Democrats adhered to our resolution. The Revolutionary Socialists of the Left hypocritically declared themselves partizans of an early opening of the Const.i.tuante. But behold, the Council of the so-called "Commissaries of the People" fixed the opening for the 5th of January. _At the same time they called for the 8th of January a Congress of the Soviets of Workmen"s and Soldiers" Delegates, thus hoping to be able to trick and to cover with the name of this Congress their criminal acts_. The object of this postponement is clear; they did not even hide it and threatened to dissolve the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly in case that it did not submit to the Bolshevik Congress of Soviets. The same threat was repeated by those who are called Socialist-Revolutionists of the Left.
The delegation of the Ukrainian Revolutionary Socialists abandoned us also and submitted to the order for the convocation on January 5th, considering that the fight of the Bolshevik power against the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly is an internal question, which interests only Greater Russia.
Citizens! We shall be there, too, on January 5th, so that the least particle of responsibility for the sabotage of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly may not fall upon us.
But we do not think that we can suspend our activity with regard to the speediest possible opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly.
We address an energetic appeal to all the deputies; in the name of the fatherland, in the name of the Revolution, in the name of the duty which devolves upon you by reason of your election, come, all, to Petrograd! On the 1st of January all the deputies present will decide on the day for the opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly.
We appeal to you, citizens! Remind your elected representatives of their duty.
And remember that your salvation is solely in your own hands, a mortal danger threatens the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly; be all ready to rise in its defense!
THE REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST FRACTION OF THE CONSt.i.tUENT a.s.sEMBLY.
On the 3d of January the League for the Defense of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly held a meeting at which were present 210 delegates, representing the Socialist parties as well as various democratic organizations and many factories--that of Putilov, that of Oboukhov, and still others from the outskirts of Narva, from the districts of Viborg, Spa.s.sky, and Petrogradsky, from the Isle Va.s.sily. It was decided to organize for January 5th a peaceful display in honor of the opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly.
The Bolsheviki answered this by furious articles in the _Pravda_, urging the people not to spare the counter-revolutionaries, these bourgeoisie who intend, by means of their Const.i.tuante, to combat the revolutionary people.
They advised the people of Petrograd not to go out on the streets that day.
"We shall act without reserve," they added.
Sailors were called from Cronstadt; cruisers and torpedo-boats came. An order was issued to the sailors and to the Red Guards who patrolled all the works of the Taurida, to make use of their arms if any one attempted to enter the palace. For that day unlimited powers were accorded to the military authorities. At the same time an a.s.sembly of the representatives of the garrison at Petrograd, fixed for that day, was proscribed, and the newspaper, _The Soldiers" Cloak_, was suppressed.
A Congress of Soviets was called for the 8th of January. They prepared the dissolution of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly and they wanted to place the Congress before the accomplished fact. The Executive Committee of the Soviet of Peasants" Delegates, and the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workmen"s and Soldiers" Delegates chosen at the first elections answered by the two following appeals:
Peasant Comrades!
The Bolsheviki have fixed the 5th of January for the opening of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly; for the 8th of January they call the III Congress of the Soviets of Workmen"s and Soldiers" Delegates, and for the 13th the Peasant Congress.
The peasants are, by design, relegated to the background.
An outrage against the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly is being prepared.
In this historic moment the peasants cannot remain aloof.
The Provisional Executive Committee of the National Soviet of Peasants" Delegates, which goes on duty as a guard to the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly, has decided to call, on the 8th of January, also, the Third National Congress of the Soviets of Peasants"
Delegates. The representation remains the same as before. Send your delegates at once to Petrograd, Grand Bolotnai, 2A.
The fate of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly is the fate of Russia, the fate of the Revolution.
All up for the defense of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly, for the defense of the Revolution--not by word alone, but by acts!
[Signed] _The Provisional Executive Committee of the National Soviet of Peasants" Delegates, upholding the principle of the defense of the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly_.
APPEAL OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SOVIETS OF WORKMEN"S AND SOLDIERS" DELEGATES, CHOSEN AT THE FIRST ELECTIONS
To all the Soviets of Workmen"s and Soldiers" Delegates, to all the Committees of the Army and of the Navy, to all the organizations a.s.sociated with the Soviets and Committees, to all the members of the Socialist-Revolutionist and Menshevist Social Democratic fractions who left the Second Congress of Soviets:
Comrades, workmen, and soldiers! Our cry of alarm is addressed to all those to whom the work of the Soviets is dear. Know that a traitorous blow threatens the revolutionary fatherland, the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly, and even the work of the Soviets. Your duty is to prepare yourselves for their defense.
The Central Executive Committee, nominated at the October Congress, calls together for the 8th of January a Congress of Soviets, destined to bungle the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly.
Comrades! The Second Congress of Soviets a.s.sembled at the end of October, under conditions particularly unfavorable, at the time that the Bolshevik party, won over by its leaders to a policy of adventure, a plot unbecoming a cla.s.s organization, executed at Petrograd a _coup d"etat_ which gave it power; at a time when certain groups with the same viewpoint disorganized even the method of convocation of the Second Congress, thus openly aspiring to falsify the results; at this same Congress the regular representatives of the army were lacking (only two armies being represented), and the Soviets of the provinces were very insufficiently represented (only about 120 out of 900). Under these conditions it is but natural that the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets chosen at the first election would not recognize the right of this Congress to decide the politics of the Soviets.
However, in spite of the protestations, and even of the departure of a great number of delegates (those of the Revolutionary Socialist fraction, Mensheviki, and Populist-Socialists), a new Executive Committee of the Soviets was elected. To consider this last as the central director of all the Soviets of the country was absolutely impossible. The delegates who remained in the Congress formed only an a.s.sembly of a group with a little fraction of the Revolutionary Socialists of the Left, who had given their adhesion to them. Thus the Central Committee named by their Conference could not be considered except as representatives of these two groups only.
Bringing to the organization of Soviets an unheard-of disorder, establishing by their shameful methods of fighting its domination over the Soviets, some of which were taken by surprise, the others terrorized and broken in their personnel, deceiving the working cla.s.s and the army by its short-sighted policy of adventure, the new Executive Committee during the two months that have since pa.s.sed has attempted to subject all the Soviets of Russia to its influence. It succeeded in part in this, in the measure in which the confidence of the groups which const.i.tuted it in the policy was not yet exhausted. But a considerable portion of the Soviets, as well as fractions of other Soviets, fractions composed of the most devoted and experienced fighters, continued to follow the only true revolutionary road; to develop the cla.s.s organization of the working ma.s.ses, to direct their intellectual and political life, to develop the political and social aspects of the Revolution, to exert, by all the power of the working cla.s.s organized into Soviets, the necessary pressure to attain the end that it proposed. The questions of peace and of war, that of the organization of production and of food-supply, and that of the fight for the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly are in the first place. The policy of adventure of the groups which seized the power is on the eve of failure. Peace could not be realized by a rupture with the Allies and an entente with the imperialistic orb of the Central Powers. By reason of this failure of the policy of the Commissaires of the People, of the disorganization of production (which, among other things, has had as a result the creation of hundreds of thousands of unemployed), by reason of the civil war kindled in the country and the absence of a power recognized by the whole people, the Central Powers tend to take hold in the most cynical fashion of a whole series of western provinces (Poland, Lithuania, Courland), and to subject the whole country to their complete economic, if not political, domination.