yet with us. We shall continue to exercise it until they submit. I
estimate the dictatorship will last about forty years."

149. SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY.--The democratic tendencies evidenced
under the Kerensky regime, and apparently encouraged by some of the
provisions of the bolshevist constitution, were quickly checked by the
dictatorship. It became the policy of the government to deprive "all
individuals and groups of rights which could be utilized by them to
the detriment of the socialist revolution." The semblance of a
representative system was retained, but voting power was so
distributed as to allow an oligarchic group to control the
government's policies. This group had the power to disallow elections
which went against it, as well as the power to force the dismissal
from local Soviets of anti-bolshevist members. The right to vote could
be arbitrarily withdrawn by order of the central authorities. Free
speech and the right to enjoy a free press were suppressed. Lenin
admitted that bolshevism "does not represent the toiling masses," and
declared that "the word democracy cannot be scientifically applied to
the bolshevist party." Both Lenin and Trotzky declared that they had
no fixed policy except to do whatever at the moment seemed expedient,
regardless of previous statements or promises.

150. ABOLITION OF THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM.--Socialism, so long a theory,
became a practical concern at the moment that the bolshevists secured
control of the government. Private property in land was abolished, the
arable land of Russia being apportioned among agriculturists without
compensation to the former owners. All mines, forests, and waterways
of national importance were taken over by the central government,
while the smaller woods, rivers, and lakes became the property of the
local Soviets. Banking establishments were seized and looted by