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

THE ELECTION IN ST. PETERSBURG27the revolution and freedom—we shall vilify them, we shallpublish Vekhi, 21 we shall throw mud at the revolution, weshall hire as many renegades as possible—Izgoyevs, Galiches,Struves and so forth—to demonstrate our renunciationof the revolution. Since it is “purposeless” to fight againstthe autocracy receiving support from foreign capital—weshall help the autocracy to negotiate loans, we shall sendMilyukov as a footman on the step of the royal coach ofNicholas the Bloody.But if the phrase about an ideological struggle at the electionsbeing “purposeless” is a true indication of the “ideological”nature of the Cadets, the next phrase is a model ofdownright election trickery. Exercising the monopoly of“His Majesty’s Opposition”, 22 Rech slandered, firstly, theSocial-Democrats, who have never anywhere declared againstsplitting votes (and who—this is very important—wonover the Trudoviks to their leadership in the famous Leftbloc, won them over by the firm determination to put up aSocial-Democratic candidate at all costs), and, secondly,the Trudovik 23 Vodovozov.Apart from the leading article, there is an item in the issueof August 1 imputing to Vodovozov a statement that theelectors have already declared for the Cadets, and that theTrudoviks must either vote for the Cadets or abstain. Onlyin its issue of August 6 does the organ of the party of “people’sfreedom” find an odd corner (underneath the “CountryLife” column) for a letter from Mr. Vodovozov, who proteststhat he “never said” the words ascribed to him. Rech is notat all abashed by this and goes on to argue the point withVodovozov. The deed is done, the reader has been deceived,the monopoly of the press permitted by the Stolypins hasbeen utilised and that is all that matters. Finally in the issueof August 9 there is a couple of lines on the Social-Democraticcandidate Sokolov and on the fact that many Trudovikspropose to vote for him. All that was reported in the leadingarticle of August 1 concerning the Lefts proves to have beena canard....The difficulties of the task confronting the Social-Democratsin St. Petersburg will not dismay them but will makethem redouble their efforts. Not only all Party organisations,every workers’ circle, every group of Social-Democratic