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

AT THE DOOR OF HISTORY
contributions were 'not only very useful but absolutely necessary'
.1 Zasulich and Martov agreed. 'His [Trotsky's] literary
works', Martov wrote to Axelrod, 'reveal indubitable talent •..
and already he wields great influence here thanks to his uncommon
oratorical gift>. He speaks magnificently. Of this both
I and Vladimir Ilyich [Lenin] have had sufficient proof. He
possesses knowledge and works hard to increase it. I endorse
Lenin's proposal without reservation." Axelrod, too, accepted
the candidature. On this at least there was no division between
the veterans and the others. The whole team, with one exception,
eagerly welcomed Trotsky. The exception was Plckhanov.
He objected vehemently on the ground that Trotsky's contributions,
with their florid rhetoric, lowered the standard of the
paper. That Trotsky's style was flowery and full of flourishes
was true. Lenin had gently tried to prune it; and, in recommending
Trotsky's appointment, he wrote that if the latter
became a regular member of the editorial team it would be
easier to impress on him the need for stylistic simplicity: he
would then sec that this was the view of the whole team, not
merely Lenin's preference for austerity. But, to the indignation
of all his colleagues, Plckhanov was unmoved. After much
bickering, Zasulich brought the unsuspecting Trotsky to an
editorial cor..fcrcnce, hoping that Plckhanov would give in.
Plekhanov snubbed the 'intruder' and persisted in his veto.
In My Life Trotsky says that Plekhanov suspected that he,
Trotsky, would join Lenin in his opposition to the veterans.
This could hardly have been Plekhanov's main motive. All the
other veterans treated Trotsky with almost paternal pride and
tenderness; and he in his tum showed them an affectionate
reverence, becoming the Benjamin of the group. Such was his
attitude not only towards Zasulich but also, and especially,
towards Axelrod, whose home in Zurich presently became
Trotsky's favourite retreat during his trips to the Continent.
It is difficult to imagine characters more contrasting than those
of Plekhanov and Axelrod, who had for nearly twenty-five
years worked together in close friendship. Axelrod was a south
Ukrainianjew, like Trotsky. He had started as a Narodnik in the
original South Russian Workers' Union, from which Trotsky had
• Krupskaya, op. cit., p. 65; Trotsky, Moya ZhiQJ, vol. i, chapter xii.
2
Pisma Axtlroda i Mar/Qoa, pp. 7g-&.