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

TWELVE BRIEF THESES257international revolutionary class struggle against the bourgeoisie!Why does Greulich forget that, way back in 1912, theBasle Manifesto of the International directly stated, first,that the basic character of the future war is determined byimperialist capitalism, and, second, spoke of proletarianrevolution precisely in connection with this war?8. In the third article Greulich writes:Revolutionary mass struggle “instead of utilising democraticrights” is a “very vague concept”.This proves that Greulich accepts only the bourgeoisreformistpath and rejects or ignores revolution. That befits aGrütlian, but it certainly does not befit a Social-Democrat.Revolution without “revolutionary mass struggle” is impossible.There have never been such revolutions. In theimperialist era that has now begun, revolutions are inevitablein Europe too.9. In the fourth article Comrade Greulich frankly sayshe will “naturally” resign from the National Council if theparty rejects defence of the fatherland in principle, addingthat such a rejection would imply “violation of our unity”.That is not open to misinterpretation: it is a clear ultimatumto the party on the part of the social-patriot NationalCouncil members. Either the party accepts thesesocial-patriot views, or “we” (Greulich, Müller, etc.) willresign.But, frankly, what kind of “unity” can we speak of?Only, of course, of “unity” of the social-patriot leaderswith their seats on the National Council?!Principled proletarian unity implies something quitedifferent: the social-patriots, i.e., the defenders of the“fatherland”, should “unite” with the social-patriot, thoroughlybourgeois Grütli-Verein. The Social-Democrats, whoreject fatherland defence, should “unite” with the socialistproletariat. That is perfectly obvious.We firmly hope that Comrade Greulich will not wish todisgrace himself by trying to disprove (despite the experienceof England, Germany, Sweden, etc.) that “unity” ofthe social-patriots, those “agents” of bourgeois governments,with the socialist proletariat can lead only to sheer disorganisation,demoralisation, hypocrisy and lies.