The result of these elections in the municipalities of Moscow is one of the most striking symptoms of the profound change which is taking place in the state of mind of the people. It is notorious that Moscow is more petit-bourgeois than Petrograd. As compared with that of Petrograd the Moscow proletariat has many more ties with the country-side and is much nearer to rural ideology. This is an indisputable fact and one which has often been confirmed.
And now at Moscow the number of votes cast for the S.R.'s and the Mensheviks falls from 70 per cent. in July to 18 per cent. in September. The petite bourgeoisie has turned away from the coalition; and the people also: so much cannot be doubted. The Cadets have increased their poll from 17 per cent. to 30 per cent., but they remain a minority—a minority condemned to impotence, although the S.R.'s and the Mensheviks of the Right have undoubtedly rallied to them.
The Rouskia Viedomosti declare that the total number of votes polled by the Cadets has fallen from 67,000 to 62,000. Only the Bolsheviks have had an increase (from 34,000 to 82,000) in the total number of their votes. They have obtained 47 per cent. of the total votes.[1]
Together with the Left-wing S.R.'s, we now have an undoubted majority in the soviets, in the army, and in the country.
It is worth while noting yet one more fact which is very symptomatic, and which has at the same time some tangible consequences: The organisations of railwaymen and postal workers which have a tremendous economic political and military importance are in sharp conflict with the government,[2] to such an extent that the Menshevik apologists themselves are dissatisfied with their "minister " Nikitine, and that the S.R.'s are treating Kerensky and his disciples as "Stolypinists." Is it not obvious that if such a support of the government by the S.R.'s and the Mensheviks is to have any result, they can only be negative ones?
IV.
Yes, the leaders of the Central Executive Committee are beating an ordered retreat for the bourgeoisie and the big landowners. It cannot be doubted that if the Bolsheviks allow themselves to be
