much), and walked in the church procession on one day and in the Bolshevik parade on the next.
Peasants, Anarchists and
Germans Pitted against
the Soviets.
The cities were the stronghold of the Bolsheviks. The bourgeoisie sought to play the the Soviets. country against them.
"Look!" they said to the peasants, "The cities work but eight hours a day, why should you work sixteen? Why deliver your grain to the cities when you get nothing in return?"[1] The old Executive Committee of the Peasants' Soviet flatly refused to recognize the new government at Smolny.
Over their heads, however, the Bolsheviks called a new congress of peasants. Here the old guard with Chernov made furious assaults upon the Bolsheviks. But two stubborn facts could not be downed. First: The Bolsheviks had given the peasants land—not promises. Second: The Bolsheviks were now inviting the peasants to participate in the new government.
After days of stormy debate an agreement was concluded. The peasants streamed out into the night lit with torches, the band of the Pavlovsky Regiment crashed into the Marseillaise, workmen rushed in upon the peasants clasping them in their arms and kissing them. Behind the huge peasant Soviet banner with its inscription: "Long Live the
- ↑ Appendix, p. 310. Soviet appeal to Peasants: "Dear Brothers."
