Lenin CW-Vol. 23.pdf - From Marx to Mao

174V. I. LENINhis own Scheidemanns and Kautskyites, whereas Skobelevremains in permanent harmony and friendship with theRussian Scheidemanns (Potresov and Co., Chkhenkeli,et al.) and with the Russian Kautskyites (Axelrod et al.)On behalf of himself and of his friends abroad, Martovannounces in Golos 85 No. 2 (Samara, September 20, 1916)a refusal to contribute to Dyelo, but at the same time hewhitewashes Chkheidze; at the same time (Izvestia No. 6,September 12, 1916) he asserts that he has parted with Trotskyand Nashe Slovo because of the “Trotsky” idea of repudiatingthe bourgeois revolution in Russia. But everybodyknows that this is a lie, that Martov left Nashe Slovo becausethe latter could not tolerate Martov’s whitewashingof the O.C.! In the same Izvestia Martov defends his deceptionof the German public, which even roused the indignationof Roland-Holst. He published a pamphlet in German fromwhich he omitted the very part of the Petrograd and MoscowMensheviks’ policy statement in which they announcedtheir willingness to participate in the war industries committees!86Recall the controversy between Trotsky and Martov inNashe Slovo prior to the latter’s resignation from the EditorialBoard. Martov reproached Trotsky for not havingmade up his mind whether or not he would follow Kautskyat the decisive moment. Trotsky retorted that Martov wasplaying the part of a “bait”, a “decoy”, trying to entice therevolutionary workers into the opportunist and chauvinistparty of the Potresovs, then the O.C., etc.Both sides repeated our arguments. And both were right.However much the truth about Chkheidze and Co. may beconcealed, it will come to light. Chkheidze’s role is to compromisewith the Potresovs, to camouflage opportunist andchauvinist politics by vague or near-“Left” phrases. AndMartov’s role is to whitewash Chkheidze.Published in SbornikSotsial-Demokrata, No. 2December 1916Signed: N. LeninPublished according tothe Sbornik text