Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

191MEETING OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEEOF THE R.S.D.L.P.(B.)OCTOBER 10 (23), 1917 811REPORTMINUTESComrade Lenin read the resolution adopted by the CentralCommittee at the previous meeting. He stated that theresolution had been adopted with two dissenting votes. Ifthe dissident comrades wished to make a statement, adiscussion could be held; meanwhile he continued with themotives of the resolution.If the Menshevik and Socialist-Revolutionary partieswere to break with their policy of conciliation, a compromisewith them could be proposed. The proposal bad been made,but those parties had obviously rejected the compromise.*On the other hand, by that time it had become definitelyclear that the masses were following the Bolsheviks. Thathad been before the Kornilov revolt. Lenin cited electionreturns from Petrograd and Moscow as evidence. The Kornilovrevolt had pushed the masses still more decisivelyto the side of the Bolsheviks. The alignment of forces atthe Democratic Conference. The position was clear—eitherKornilov’s dictatorship or the dictatorship of the proletariatand the poorer strata of the peasantry. The Partycould not be guided by the temper of the masses becauseit was changeable and incalculable; the Party must be guidedby an objective analysis and an appraisal of the revolution.The masses had put their trust in the Bolsheviks and* See present edition, Vol. 25, pp. 305-10.—Ed.