Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 13 - From Marx to Mao

130V. I. LENINof popular representation. Hence the need for explainingto the broad masses the utter failure of the Third Duma tomeet the interests and demands of the people, and consequentlyfor wide and vigorous propaganda of the idea of a constituentassembly with full power based on universal, direct,and equal suffrage by secret ballot.The London resolution also defines very clearly the natureof Social-Democratic activities in the State Dumain the following terms: “The critical, propagandist, agitational,and organisational role of the Social-Democraticgroup in the Duma should be brought to the fore”, “thegeneral character of the Duma struggle should be subordinatedto the entire struggle of the proletariat outside theDuma, it being particularly important in this connectionto make use of mass economic struggle and to serve theinterests of that struggle.” It is perfectly obvious what aclose, inseparable connection there is between such Dumaactivities and the aims, which, as stated above, Social-Democracy should set itself in the Duma at the presentmoment. Peaceful legislative work by the Social-Democratsin the Third Duma under conditions which make massmovements highly probable would not only be inadvisable,would not only be absurd quixotry, but a downright betrayalof proletarian interests. It is bound to lead Social-Democracyto “a whittling down of its slogans, which can onlydiscredit it in the eyes of the masses and divorce it fromthe revolutionary struggle of the proletariat”. The spokesmenof the proletariat in the Duma could commit no greatercrime than this.The critical activity of Social-Democracy should beexpanded to the full and pointed as sharply as possible,all the more as there will be an abundance of material forthis in the Third Duma. The Social-Democrats in the Dumamust completely expose the class nature of both the government’sand the liberals’ measures and proposals that willbe passed through the Duma. Moreover, in full keepingwith the Congress resolution, particular attention mustbe given to those measures and proposals which affect theeconomic interests of the broad masses; this applies to thelabour and agrarian questions, the budget, etc. On allthese issues Social-Democracy must counter the govern-