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

CAN THE BOLSHEVIKS RETAIN STATE POWER?95not forget that the question of the Bolsheviks taking fullpower is becoming really urgent. Our Party will now bethreatened with an immeasurably greater danger if weforget this than if we were to admit that taking power is“premature”. In this respect, there can be nothing “premature”now: there is every chance in a million, except oneor two perhaps, in favour of this.Concerning the irate abuse poured out by Rech, we can,and must, say:In savage cries of irritationWe hear the voice of approbation,Not in dulcet sounds of praise. 52That the bourgeoisie hate us so passionately is one ofthe most striking proofs that we are showing the peoplethe right ways and means of overthrowing the rule of thebourgeoisie.* **This time, by way of rare exception, Dyelo Naroda did notdeign to honour us with its abuse nor did it advancea ghost of an argument. It merely tried, by indirect hints,to frighten us with the prospect that “the Bolsheviks will beobliged to form a cabinet”. I can quite believe that whiletrying to frighten us, the Socialist-Revolutionaries arethemselves sincerely seared to death by the phantom of thefrightened liberal. I can equally believe that the Socialist-Revolutionaries do succeed in certain exceptionally highand exceptionally rotten institutions, such as the CentralExecutive Committee and similar “contact” (i.e., contactwith the Cadets, in plain language, hobnobbing with theCadets) commissions, in scaring some Bolsheviks because,first, the atmosphere in all those Central Executives, preparliaments,etc., is abominable, putrid to the point ofnausea, and harmful for any man to breathe for any lengthof time; and secondly, sincerity is contagious, and a sincerelyfrightened philistine is capable of converting evenan individual revolutionary into a philistine for a time.But however much we may, “humanly” speaking, understandthe sincere fright of a Socialist-Revolutionary whohas had the misfortune to be a minister in the company of