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

DRAFT THESES, MARCH 4 (17), 1917289Lastly, the new government is not in a position to givethe people full freedom, though in its March 17 manifesto itspeaks of nothing but political freedom and is silent on other,no less important, issues. The new government has alreadyendeavoured to reach agreement with the Romanov dynasty,for it has suggested recognising the Romanovs, in defianceof the people’s will, on the understanding that Nicholas IIwould abdicate in favour of his son, with a member of theRomanov family appointed regent. In its manifesto, thenew government promises every kind of freedom, but hasfailed in its direct and unconditional duty immediately toimplement such freedoms as election of officers, etc., by thesoldiers, elections to the St. Petersburg, Moscow and otherCity Councils on a basis of genuinely universal, and notmerely male, suffrage, make all government and public buildingsavailable for public meetings, appoint elections toall local institutions and Zemstvos, likewise on the basisof genuinely universal suffrage, repeal all restrictions on therights of local government bodies, dismiss all officialsappointed to supervise local government bodies, introducenot only freedom of religion, but also freedom from religion,immediately separate the school from the church and freeit of control by government officials, etc.The new government’s March 17 manifesto arouses thedeepest distrust, for it consists entirely of promises anddoes not provide for the immediate carrying out of a singleone of the vital measures that can and should be carriedout right now.The new government’s programme does not contain asingle word on the eight-hour day or on any other economicmeasure to improve the worker’s position. It contains not asingle word about land for the peasants, about the uncompensatedtransfer to the peasants of all the estates. By its silenceon these vital issues the new government reveals its capitalistand landlord nature.Only a workers’ government that relies, first, on theoverwhelming majority of the peasant population, thefarm labourers and poor peasants, and, second, on analliance with the revolutionary workers of all countriesin the war, can give the people peace, bread and fullfreedom.