isaac-deutscher-the-prophet-armed-trotsky-1879-1921

TROTSKY IN THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION 269
gauged the impression which Bolshevik policies and slogans
had made on the masses.
In this early period of his activity--it was only the second
month after his return-Trotsky's personality had already
acquired a fresh and immense lustre. Lunacharsky writes that
'under the influence of Trotsky's dazzling success, and of the
enormous scope of his personality many people who were close
to Trotsky were even inclined to sec in him the genuine first
leader of the Russian revolution. Uritsky ... said once to me
and, it seems, to Manuilsky: "Well, the great revolution has
come, and you see that, although Lenin has so much wisdom,
he begins to grow dim beside the genius of Trotsky."' This
opinion, Lunacharsky goes on, was incorrect, not because it
exaggerated Trotsky's gifts and his power, but because the scope
of Lenin's pnlitical genius had not yet revealed itself. 'It is true
that in this period ... Lenin was dimmed a little. He did not
speak publicly very often and he did not write very much.
He directed mainly the work of organization in the Bolshevik
camp, while Trotsky thundered at the meetings.' In 1917, however,
the revolution was made as much at mass meetings as
within the narrower compass of the party.'
For the beginning of July the Bolsheviks convened the sixth
national congress of their party. This was to be the occasion
on which the Inter-Borough Organization was to join their
ranks. There was no longer any talk about changing the party's
'label'. For a time the majority of the Inter-Borough Organization
resisted; and on its behalfYurcnicv still warned members
against 'the bad organizational manners' of the Bolsheviks and
their inclination to work through narrow secretive caucuses.
Trotsky headed the minority which was impatient for the
merger. He pleaded that with their emergence from the twilight
of clandestinity and the awakening of the broad popular movement,
the Bolsheviks had largely rid themselves of their old
habits, and that what was left of these would brst he overcome
in a common, openly wnrking party. Assisted by Lunacharsky,
he converted the majority to this view. 2 But before the merger had
taken place, the country was shaken by the crisis of the July clays.
1
Lunacharsky, op. cit., pp. 25-28.
• Trotsky, Sochinmya, vol. iii, book 1, pp. 145--9·