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

310V. I. LENINof orderly government and would inevitably precipitate thecountry into anarchy within and disaster without....”What political sagacity and clarity this reveals. Howwell this Englishman, who thinks like (if he does not guide)the Guchkovs and Milyukovs, understands the alignment ofclass forces and interests! “The most moderate elementsamong his loyal subjects”, i.e., the monarchist landlordsand capitalists, want to take power into their hands, fullyrealising that otherwise “influence” will pass into the handsof the “socialists”. Why the “socialists” and not somebodyelse? Because the English Guchkovite is fully aware thatthere is no other social force in the political arena, norcan there be. The revolution was made by the proletariat.It displayed heroism; it shed its blood; it swept along withit the broadest masses of the toilers and the poor; it is demandingbread, peace and freedom; it is demanding a republic;it sympathises with socialism. But the handful of landlordsand capitalists headed by the Guchkovs and Milyukovswant to betray the will, or strivings, of the vast majorityand conclude a deal with the tottering monarchy, bolster itup, save it: appoint Lvov and Guchkov, Your Majesty, andwe will be with the monarchy against the people. Such isthe entire meaning, the sum and substance of the new government’spolicy!But how to justify the deception, the fooling of the people,the violation of the will of the overwhelming majority ofthe population?By slandering the people—the old but eternally new methodof the bourgeoisie. And the English Guchkovite slanders,scolds, spits and splutters: “anarchy within and disasterwithout”, no “orderly government”!!That is not true, Mr. Guchkovite! The workers want arepublic; and a republic represents far more “orderly”government than monarchy does. What guarantee have thepeople that the second Romanov will not get himself asecond Rasputin? Disaster will be brought on preciselyby continuation of the war, i.e., precisely by the newgovernment. Only a proletarian republic, backed by therural workers and the poorest section of the peasants andtown dwellers, can secure peace, provide bread, order andfreedom.