the measures were decided by the parties, mainly the Social Democratic representatives, and Trotsky in particular played a leading role. As editor of the Soviet's newspaper, Trotsky wrote most of its proclamations and motions. October Manifesto and revolutionary weaknesses In reaction to the strike and its aftermath, Nicholas II promulgated the October Manifesto on , promising the establishment of a constitution and the recognition of civil rights and universal suffrage. Despite the euphoria in the capital following the imperial proclamation, which led to a huge demonstration involving workers and the middle classes, those in favour of maintaining the Tsarist autocracy still retained power. In a speech to the crowd at the capital's university, Trotsky identified the weaknesses of the revolution that ultimately caused it to fail: despite the monarch's vacillations, the power of the autocracy remained in place. Despite revolutionary ferment in some units of the Imperial Russian Army - and especially in the Imperial Russian Navy - the bulk remained loyal to the Tsar. Rural Russia, the vast majority of the country, was still indifferent to the revolution, a largely urban phenomenon. The working classes' defence of the revolution was also undecided, and some of them were content with the tsar's concessions. While they longed for political freedoms, the proletariat also sought social reforms. Activities of the Soviet On , the strike from which the Soviet had emerged came to an end; the motion calling for an end to the strikes had been submitted by Trotsky two days earlier. While the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs, Dmitri Trepov, was preparing the gendarmerie to disperse the rally at the funeral of the strike victims announced for two days later, and the secret police were organising a pogrom, Trotsky advocated the cancellation of the march. The Soviet agreed to cancel the demonstration. Although frustrated by the need to avoid an armed clash with the authorities, the Soviet immediately ordered the formation of armed squads, whose first mission was to prevent the planned pogrom. The Soviet encouraged the printing workers to oppose, with success, the maintenance of censorship - which contradicted the October promises to introduce freedom of the press - and to demand the eight-hour working day, which some workers succeeded in introducing on their own, with the backing of the Soviet. On , he held a solemn reception for the Polish delegation - consisting mainly of aristocrats and priests -