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

210V. I. LENINpolitical phrase of his own social-chauvinists, who in realityserve that government.(c) In every country the Socialists must above all explainto the masses the indisputable truth that a genuinelyenduring and genuinely democratic peace (without annexations,etc.) can now be achieved only if it is concluded notby the present bourgeois governments, or by bourgeoisgovernments in general, but by proletarian governments thathave overthrown the rule of the bourgeoisie and are proceedingto expropriate it.The war has reaffirmed clearly enough and in a verypractical way a truth which prior to the war was repeatedby all the socialist leaders who have now gone over to thebourgeoisie, namely, that modern capitalist society, particularly*in the advanced countries, has fully matured forthe transition to socialism. If, for instance, Germany candirect the economic life of 66 million people from a singlecentre, and strain the people’s energies to wage a predatorywar in the interests of 100 or 200 financial magnates oraristocrats, the monarchy, etc., then the same can be done,in the interests of nine-tenths of the population, by thenon-propertied masses if their struggle is directed by classconsciousworkers, liberated from social-imperialist andsocial-pacifist influence.All propaganda for socialism must be refashioned fromabstract and general to concrete and directly practical:expropriate the banks and, relying on the masses, carry outin their interests the very same thing the W.U.M.B.A.**is carrying out in Germany!(d) In every country the socialist must explain to themasses the indisputable truth that, if the phrase “democraticpeace” is to be taken seriously, sincerely and honestly, andnot merely used as a false Christian phrase meant to concealan imperialist peace, then the workers have only one meansof really achieving such a peace right now. That means is toturn their weapons against their own government (i.e.,follow the advice of Karl Liebknecht, for which he has been* In the manuscript, the words “at any rate” are written over theword “particularly”.—Ed.** Waffen- und Munitionsbeschaffungsamt—Weapons and AmmunitionSupply Department.—Ed.