We have examined various methods and approaches to combating catastrophe and famine. We have seen everywhere the irreconcilability of the contradiction between democracy, on the one hand, and the government as well as the bloc of Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks supporting it, on the other. To prove that these contradictions exist in reality and not merely in our exposition, and that their irreconcilability is demonstrated by actual conflicts of nationwide significance, it suffices to recall two particularly typical "results" and lessons from half a year of our revolution's history.

The history of Palchinsky's "reign" — one lesson. The history of Peshekhonovʼs "reign" and fall — another.

In essence, the measures described above for combating catastrophe and famine reduce to comprehensive encouragement (extending even to compulsion) of the "unionization" of the population and first and foremost of democracy — that is, the majority of the population — meaning above all the oppressed classes, workers and peasants, especially the poorest. And the population itself spontaneously began moving along this path in order to combat the unprecedented difficulties, hardships, and calamities of war.

Tsarism in every way hindered the independent and free "unionization" of the population. But after the fall of the tsarist monarchy, democratic organizations began to arise and rapidly grow throughout Russia. The struggle against catastrophe was led by spontaneous democratic organizations, all manner of supply committees, food committees, fuel conferences, and so forth and so on.

And now, the most remarkable thing in the entire half-year history of our revolution on the question under consideration consists in this: the government, calling itself republican and revolutionary, the government supported by Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries in the name of the "duly authorized organs of revolutionary democracy" — this very government fought against democratic organizations and defeated them!!

Palchinsky acquired through this struggle the most sorrowful and most widespread, all-Russian notoriety. He acted behind the back of the government, not appearing openly before the people (in precisely the same way as the Kadets as a whole preferred to act, readily putting forward "for the people" Tseretelli, while themselves quietly handling all important affairs). Palchinsky hindered and wrecked every serious measure of spontaneous democratic organizations, for no serious measure could take place without "detriment" to the boundless profits and arbitrary conduct of the Kits Kityches. And Palchinsky was precisely the faithful protector and servant of the Kits Kityches. It came to the point — and this fact was published in the newspapers — that Palchinsky directly rescinded the orders of spontaneous democratic organizations!!

The entire history of Palchinsky's "reign" — and he "reigned" for many months, and precisely when Tseretelli, Skobелev, and Chernov were "ministers" — is one continuous, shameful scandal, a thwarting of the people's will, of the decision of democracy, in deference to capitalists, for the sake of their filthy greed. In the newspapers, of course, only an insignificant fraction of Palchinsky's "exploits" could appear, and a complete investigation of how he impeded the struggle against famine will be possible to accomplish only by the truly democratic government of the proletariat, when it conquers power and submits to the judgment of the people, without concealment, the affairs of Palchinsky and those like him.

It may be objected that Palchinsky was after all an exception and he was removed at that... But the point precisely is that Palchinsky is not an exception but the rule, that with Palchinsky's removal nothing improved whatsoever, that his place was taken by such same Palchinskys with different surnames, that all the "influence" of the capitalists, all the policy of wrecking the struggle against famine in their favor remained untouched. For Kerensky and Company are merely a screen for the defense of capitalists' interests.

The most graphic proof of this — the departure from the ministry of Peshekhonovʼ, the Minister of Food Supply. As is known, Peshekhonovʼ is the most moderate of populists. But in the organization of food supply work, he wished to work conscientiously, in connection with democratic organizations, relying upon them. All the more interesting is the experience of Peshekhonovʼ's work and his departure, in that this most moderate populist, a member of the "People's Socialist" party, ready to make any compromises whatsoever with the bourgeoisie, nonetheless turned out to be forced to resign! For the Kerensky government, in deference to capitalists, landowners, and kulaks, raised the fixed prices on grain!!

This is how M. Smith describes in the newspaper "Svobodnaya Zhizn"{77} No. 1, dated September 2, this "step" and its significance:

"A few days before the government adopted the raising of fixed grain prices, such a scene occurred in the all-state Food Committee: the representative of the right, Rolovich, a stubborn defender of the interests of private trade and a merciless enemy of the grain monopoly and state intervention in economic life, declared loudly, with a self-satisfied smile, that according to his information, fixed grain prices would soon be raised.

The representative of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, in response to this, declared that he knew nothing of the sort, that so long as revolution continues in Russia, such an act could not take place, and that in any case the government could not undertake this act without consultation with the competent organs of democracy — the Economic Council and the all-state Food Committee. To this declaration also joined the representative of the Soviet of Peasants' Deputies.

But, alas! Reality introduced into this controversy a most cruel correction: right proved not to be the representatives of democracy, but the representative of propertied elements. He proved to be excellently informed concerning the impending infringement of democracy's rights, even though its representatives indignantly rejected the very possibility of such an infringement."

Thus, both the representative of the workers and the representative of the peasantry declare definitively their opinion in the name of the gigantic majority of the people, yet the Kerensky government acts otherwise, in the interests of the capitalists!

Rolovich, the representative of the capitalists, proved to be splendidly informed behind democracy's back — in precisely the same way as we have always observed and now observe the excellent informatedness of bourgeois newspapers, "Rech" and "Birzhevka," about what is occurring in the Kerensky government.

What does this remarkable informatedness point to? Clearly: to the fact that the capitalists have their own "channels" and hold power in fact in their own hands. Kerensky is a dummy figure whom they set in motion, exactly when and as they require it. The interests of tens of millions of workers and peasants turn out to be sacrificed to the profits of a handful of rich men.

What do our Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks answer to this outrageous mockery of the people? Perhaps they appealed to the workers and peasants with a proclamation that Kerensky and his colleagues deserve to be in prison?

God forbid! The Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, in the person of the "Economic Department" belonging to them, confined themselves to adopting a threatening resolution which we have already mentioned! In this resolution they declare that the raising of grain prices by the Kerensky government is "a pernicious measure, dealing the strongest blow both to food supply work and to the entire economic life of the country" and that these pernicious measures were carried through in direct "violation" of the law!!

Such are the results of a policy of compromise, a policy of flattering Kerensky and the desire to "spare" him!

The government violates the law, adopting, in deference to the rich, landowners, and capitalists, such a measure as destroys the entire work of control, food supply, and the restoration of finances shattered to the utmost degree — yet the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks continue to speak of agreement with commercial and industrial circles, continue to attend meetings with Tereshchenko, spare Kerensky, and confine themselves to a paper resolution of protest which the government calmly files away!!

Here is where with particular clarity is revealed that truth: that the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks have betrayed the people and the revolution, and that the true leader of the masses, even of Socialist-Revolutionary and Menshevik masses, becomes the Bolsheviks.

For it is precisely the conquest of power by the proletariat with the Bolshevik party at its head — this alone is capable of putting an end to the outrages perpetrated by Kerensky and Company and of restoring that work of democratic organizations of food supply, provisioning, and so forth, which Kerensky and his government are wrecking.

The Bolsheviks come forward — on the example adduced this is visible with complete clarity — as representatives of the interests of the entire people, the interests of ensuring food supply and provisioning work, the interests of satisfying the most pressing needs of workers and peasants contrary to that vacillating, irresolute, truly treacherous policy of the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, which has brought the country to a shame such as this raising of grain prices!