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

BUT WHO ARE THE JUDGES?159can one day adopt an ultra-opportunist resolution by 67votes to 1, and the next day exhaust themselves shouting“revolutionary” cries.No, gentlemen “judges”, we do not envy you your formalright to rejoice at the sharp struggle and splits within theranks of Social-Democracy. No doubt, there is much in thisstruggle that is to be deplored. Without a doubt, there ismuch in these splits that is disastrous to the cause of socialism.Nevertheless, not for a single minute would we careto barter this heavy truth for your “light” lie. Our Party’sserious illness is the growing pains of a mass party. Forthere can be no mass party, no party of a class, withoutfull clarity of essential shadings, without an open strugglebetween various tendencies, without informing the massesas to which leaders and which organisations of the Partyare pursuing this or that line. Without this, a party worthyof the name cannot be built, and we are building it. We havesucceeded in putting the views of our two currents truthfully,clearly, and distinctly before everyone. Personal bitterness,factional squabbles and strife, scandals, and splits—allthese are trivial in comparison with the fact that the experienceof two tactics is actually teaching a lesson to theproletarian masses, is actually teaching a lesson to everyonewho is capable of taking an intelligent interest in politics.Our quarrels and splits will be forgotten. Our tactical principles,sharpened and tempered, will go down as cornerstonesin the history of the working-class movement andsocialism in Russia. Years will pass, perhaps decades, andthe influence of one or the other tendency will be traced in ahundred practical questions of different kinds. Both theworking class of Russia and the whole people know whomthey are dealing with in the case of Bolshevism or Menshevism.Do they know the Cadets? The entire history of the CadetParty is one of sheer political jugglery that keeps silentabout what matters most and whose one and everlastingconcern is to keep the truth hidden at all costs.Do they know the Socialist-Revolutionaries? Will theS.R.’s tomorrow again enter into a bloc with the Social-Cadets? Are they not in that bloc today? Do they dissociatethemselves from the “individualist mud” of the Tru-