Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

324V. I. LENIN2SPEECH ON THE AGRARIAN QUESTIONNOVEMBER 14 (27)NEWSPAPER REPORTOn the instructions of the Bolshevik group, ComradeLenin delivered a speech setting forth the views of theBolshevik Party on the agrarian question.He said that the Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries hadsuffered defeat over the agrarian question, since it hadadvocated the confiscation of the landed estates, but refusedto carry it into effect.Landed proprietorship forms the basis of feudal oppression,and the confiscation of the landed estates is the first step ofthe revolution in Russia. But the land question cannot besettled independently of the other problems of the revolution.A correct view of these problems can be derived froman analysis of the stages through which the revolution haspassed. The first stage was the overthrow of the autocracyand the establishment of the power of the bourgeoisie andthe landowners. The interests of the landowners were closelyinterwoven with those of the bourgeoisie and the banks.The second stage was the consolidation of the Soviets anda policy of compromise with the bourgeoisie. The mistakeof the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries was that at that timethey failed to oppose the policy of compromise on the pleathat the masses were not sufficiently enlightened. A party isthe vanguard of a class, and its duty is to lead the massesand not merely to reflect the average political level of themasses. But in order to lead those who vacillate the LeftSocialist-Revolutionary comrades must themselves stopvacillating.Comrades Left Socialist-Revolutionaries! In July therebegan a period in which the masses of the people started