Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 16 - From Marx to Mao

METHODS OF LIQUIDATORS AND PARTY TASKS OF BOLSHEVIKS101ultimatumism, also leads in fact to strengthening liquidationism:to continue to “dispute” about Duma and legalactivity, to try to preserve the old organisation, not adaptingit to the new historical period, to the changed conditions,means in fact a policy of revolutionary inaction anddestruction of the illegal organisation.The Bolsheviks are faced with the task of a fight on twoflanks—a “central” task (the essence of which has not beenunderstood by Maximov, who sees here only insincerityand diplomacy). It is impossible to preserve and strengthenthe illegal Social-Democratic organisation without reconstructingit systematically, undeviatingly, step by step,for coping successfully with the present difficult period,for persistent work through the “strongpoints” of legal possibilitiesof every kind.Objective conditions have dictated this task to the Party.Who will solve it? The same objective conditions have dictateda rapprochement of pro-Party members of all factionsand sections of the Party, above all a rapprochement betweenthe Bolsheviks and the pro-Party Mensheviks, andwith the Mensheviks of the type of the Vyborg comrades inSt. Petersburg and the Plekhanovites abroad. The Bolsheviksfor their part have openly proclaimed the need forthis rapprochement, and for it we issue a call to all Menshevikscapable of openly combating liquidationism, ofopenly supporting Plekhanov, and, of course, to all Menshevikworkers above all. The rapprochement will occurrapidly and extensively if an agreement with the Plekhanovitesis possible: an agreement on the basis of the strugglefor the Party and the Party principle against liquidationism,without any ideological compromises, without anyglossing over of tactical and other differences of opinionwithin the limits of the Party line. Let all Bolsheviks, andespecially working-class Bolsheviks in the localities, doeverything to achieve such agreements.If the Plekhanovites prove too weak or unorganised, ordo not want to reach an agreement, then we shall advancetowards the same goal by a longer route, but in any casewe shall advance towards it and we shall reach it. Thenthe Bolshevik faction remains the sole builder of the Party,at once and immediately, in the sphere of practical work