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

326V. I. LENINbility of restoration” (p. 115). Let us examine this key alittle more closely. Here is the first reference to it in Plekhanov’sfirst speech:“Lenin says, ‘we shall make nationalisation harmless’,but to make nationalisation harmless we must find a guaranteeagainst restoration; and there is not, nor can therebe, any such guarantee. Recall the history of France; recallthe history of England; in each of these countries, the widesweep of the revolution was followed by restoration. Thesame may happen in our country; and our programme mustbe such that in the event of its application, the harm thatmay be caused by restoration may be reduced to a minimum.Our programme must eliminate the economic basis of tsarism;but nationalisation of the land effected during therevolutionary period does not eliminate that basis. Therefore,I consider that the demand for nationalisation is ananti-revolutionary demand” (p. 44). What the “economicbasis of tsarism” is, Plekhanov tells in the same speech:“The situation in our country was such that the land, togetherwith its cultivators, was held in servitude by the state,and on the basis of that servitude Russian despotism developed.To overthrow despotism, it is necessary to do awaywith its economic basis. Therefore, I am opposed to nationalisationat present” (p. 44).First of all, let us examine the logic of this argumentabout restoration. First: “there is not, nor can there be,any guarantee against restoration!” Second: “the harmthat may be caused by restoration must be reduced to aminimum”. That is to say, we must invent a guaranteeagainst restoration, although there cannot be any suchguarantee! And on the very next page, 45 (in the samespeech), Plekhanov finally invents a guarantee: “In theevent of restoration,” he plainly says, “it [municipalisation]will not surrender the land [listen!] to the politicalrepresentatives of the old order.” Thus, although “therecannot be” any such guarantee, a guarantee against restorationhas been found. A very clever conjuring trick, andthe Menshevik press is filled with rapture over the conjurer’sskill.When Plekhanov speaks he is brilliant and witty, hecrackles, twirls, and sparkles like a Catherine-wheel. The