The Stalin school of falsification - Marxists Internet Archive

Stalin School of Falsification -- Chapter 15
In view of the unquestionable prevalence of defensist moods among wide layers of the masses who
accept the war onley ot&t of necessity and not for the sake of conquests, we must explain to them in
special detail, patiently, insistently, that it is impossible to terminate the war by a non-oppressive peace,
unless capitalism is overthrown. It is necessary to develop this idea widely, in broadest possible scope.
The soldiers demand a concrete answer to the question -- how to end the war. But to promise the people
that we can end the war solely through the good intentions of a few individuals -- that is political
charlatanism. We must warn the masses. The revolution is a difficult thing. Mistakes are unavoidable.
Our mistake is that we have not exposed revolutionary defensism to its very roots. Revolutionary
defensism is treason to socialism. It is not enough to limit ourselves to. . . . The mistake must be
admitted. What to do? We must explain. How give to those who do not understand what socialism is. .. .
We are no charlatans. We must base ourselves only on the consciousness of the masses. Even if it is
necessary to remain in a minority -- so he it. It is a good thing to give up for a time the position of
leadership; we must not be afraid to remain in the minority. When the masses announce that they do not
want conquests, I believe them. When Guchkov and Lvov say they do not want conquests, they are
deceivers! When a worker says that he wants the defense of the country, what speaks in him is the
instinct of the oppressed.
Thesis II. The peculiarity of the present moment in Russia consists in the transition from the first stage of
the revolution, which gave power to the bourgeoisie on account of the inadequate organization of the
proletariat, to its second stage, which must give power to the proletariat and the poorest layers of the
peasantry.
This transition is characterized, on the one hand, by a maximum of legality (Russia is now the freest of
all the belligerent countries in the world); and, on the other hand, by the absence of oppression of the
masses, and finally, by their trusting and not class-conscious attitude to the government of the capitalists,
the worst enemies of peace and socialism. This peculiarity of the present moment demands of us an
ability to adapt ourselves to the special conditions of party work among the unprecedently vast masses of
the proletariat just awakened to political life.
Why didn't you seize power? Steklov says it was because of this and that, and something or other. That's
nonsense. The reason is that the proletariat is not sufficiently conscious and sufficiently organized. That
we have to acknowledge. The material force is in the hands of the proletariat, but the bourgeoisie was
conscious and ready. That is the monstrous fact. But it is necessary to acknowledge frankly, and say to
the people straight out that we did not seize power because we were unorganized and not conscious.
Millions are being impoverished; millions killed. The most advanced countries are perishing, and in
consequence they will be confronted with the question.
The transition from the first stage to the second -- the transition of power to the proletariat and the
peasantry is characterized, on the one hand, by a maximum of legality (Russia is now the freest, the most
advanced country in the world); and, on the other, by a trusting and not conscious attitude of the masses
toward the Government. Even our Bolsheviks show confidence in the Government. That can only be
explained by intoxication incidental to revolution. That is the death of socialism. You, comrades, have
confidence in the government. If that's your position, our ways part. I prefer to remain in the minority.
One Liebknecht is worth more than 110 defensists of the Steklov and Chkeidze type. If you are in
sympathy with Liebknecht and extend even a finger to the defensists -- this will be a betrayal of
international socialism. We must speak to the people without using Latin words. We must speak simply,
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