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

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL PRO-PARTY SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS341us independently of these unsuccessful attempts at conciliationwith the Golosists. And by divesting ourselves of responsibilityfor continuing these attempts we are confidentthat we shall achieve a still closer alignment in workthrough Rabochaya Gazeta, through legal literature andthrough the activity abroad of the groups of supporters ofRabochaya Gazeta and supporters of Plekhanov.After the plenum, which in the most clear-cut way posedthe question of factions and their abolition, for the firsttime raising this question in connection with the ideologicaland political line of the factions themselves, i.e., on thereal basis of an estimate of actual rapprochement in workand not on the basis of empty promises, formal undertakingsand suchlike phrases—after the plenum and a year’s experienceof its results it is impossible to continue the old hypocriticalplaying at hide-and-seek.We must act openly. We must have the courage to saywhat the position is. If the Central Committee desire totell the Party frankly and openly what the position is,this simple statement will be a tremendously powerfulweapon in their hands, a hundred times more weightythan any kind of resolutions, wishes, condemnations, expulsions,etc.To say what the position is means acknowledging thatthe attempt to abolish all factions has, unfortunately, beenfrustrated by the Golosists and Vperyodists, but the rapprochementof the basic core, of the really pro-Party elementsof the two main factions, their closer alignment with thepro-Party elements of the nationals and non-factional Social-Democrats,has made a step forward. If Trotsky andsimilar advocates of the liquidators and otzovists declarethis rapprochement “devoid of political content”, suchspeeches testify only to Trotsky’s entire lack of principle, thereal hostility of his policy to the policy of the actual (and notmerely confined to promises) abolition of factions. To promisethis abolition after a year’s experience of the results ofthe plenum is sheer chicanery. But whereas the abolition offactions is a mere phrase, the rapprochement of the maintrends in the two chief factions is a fact. No blocs, no magniloquentpledges, no promises of the disappearance of disagreements,follow from this fact, but what does follow is a real