activity along these lines was in fact of a constructive character. But
class and party considerations were always in the foreground at all these
congresses. Also the constructive socialists did not accept the idea of
a formal coalition at the beginning. They did not participate as
organizations in the first government. Kerensky was a socialist, but he
entered the first government as a member of the Duma, and not as the
representative of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Deputies.

The resolution of a conference of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers'
Deputies, called during the fourth week of the revolution, summarizes the
attitude of revolutionary democracy toward the problem of the moment. The
full text of the resolution, given in a literal translation to preserve as
far as possible the style of the original, is an interesting document:

"Whereas the Provisional Government, that was brought into power by the
overthrow of the autocracy, represents the interests of the liberal and
democratic bourgeoisie, but shows a tendency to follow the right line, in
the declaration published by it in agreement with the representatives of
the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Deputies, therefore the all-Russian
Conference of Councils of Workmen's and Soldiers' Deputies, while insisting
on the need of constant pressure being brought to bear on the Provisional
Government to arouse it to the most energetic struggle with the
counter-revolutionary forces, and to decisive measures in the direction
of an immediate democratization of the entire Russian life, nevertheless
recognizes that political expediency dictates support of the Provisional
Government by the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Deputies _so long_ as
the Provisional Government, in agreement with the Council, moves inflexibly
toward the consolidation of the conquests of the revolution and the
extension of these conquests."