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

NOTES OF A PUBLICIST209at a loss, complaining and uttering helpless phrases (see theresolution passed on April 17, 1910, by the Vienna Social-Democratic Party Club, which shares Trotsky’s viewpoint).But the most important and fundamental question as tothe reasons why our Party union is developing in this andin no other way, why the (seemingly) complete unity at theplenum is now replaced by (seemingly) complete disunity,and also the question of what the trend of the further developmentof the Party should be in view of the “relationshipof forces” inside and outside our Party—these fundamentalquestions are not answered either by the liquidators (Golosgroup) or by the otzovists (Vperyod group) or the conciliators(Trotsky and the “Viennese”).Abuse and phrase-mongering are no answer.1. TWO VIEWS ON UNITYWith touching unanimity the liquidators and the otzovistsare abusing the Bolsheviks up hill and down dale (theliquidators attack Plekhanov as well). The Bolsheviks areto blame, the Bolshevik Centre is to blame, the “’individualistic’habits of Lenin and Plekhanov” (p. 15 of the“Necessary Supplement”) are to blame, as well as the “irresponsiblegroup” of “former members of the Bolshevik Centre”(see the leaflet of the Vperyod group). In this respectthe liquidators and the otzovists are entirely at one; theirbloc against orthodox Bolshevism (a bloc which more thanonce characterised the struggle at the plenum, which Ideal with separately below) is an indisputable fact; therepresentatives of two extreme tendencies, each of themequally expressing subordination to bourgeois ideas, eachof them equally anti-Party, are entirely at one in theirinternal Party policy, in their struggle against the Bolsheviksand in proclaiming the Central Organ to be “Bolshevik”.But the strongest abuse from Axelrod and Alexinskyonly serves to screen their complete failure to understandthe meaning and importance of Party unity. Trotsky’s(the Viennese) resolution only differs outwardly from the“effusions” of Axelrod and Alexinsky. It is drafted very“cautiously” and lays claim to “above faction” fairness.But what is its meaning? The “Bolshevik leaders” are to