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

48V. I. LENINFROM MARXTO MAOWidespread public interest in 1905 and the beginningof 1906 was focused on the first representative institution,even though it was based on a monarchist constitution.That is a fact. That is what the Social-Democrats had tofight against and show up as clearly as possible.Not so today. It is not enthusiasm for the first “parliament”that forms a characteristic feature of the moment,not belief in the Duma, but unbelief in an upswing.Under these conditions we shall not be strengtheningthe movement by prematurely putting forward the boycottslogan, we shall not be paralysing the real obstaclesto that movement. Moreover, by doing so we even risk weakeningthe force of our agitation, for the boycott is a sloganassociated with an upswing that has taken definite shape,⋆but the trouble now is that wide circles of the populationdo not believe in the upswing, do not see its strength.We must first of all see to it that the strength of thisupswing is demonstrated in actual fact, and we shall alwayshave time afterwards to put forward the slogan which indirectlyexpresses that strength. Even so it is a questionwhether a revolutionary movement of an aggressive characterrequires a special slogan diverting attention from ...the Third Duma. Possibly not. In order to pass by somethingthat is important NOT and really FOR capable of rousing theenthusiasm of the inexperienced crowd who have neverseen a parliament before, it may be necessary to boycottthe thing thatCOMMERCIALshould be passed by. But in order to passby an institution that is absolutely incapable of rousingthe enthusiasm DISTRIBUTIONof the democratic or semi-democratic crowdof today it is not necessary to proclaim a boycott. The cruxof the matter now is not in a boycott, but in direct and immediateefforts to convert the partial upswing into a generalupswing, the trade-union movement into a revolutionarymovement, the defence against lock-outs into an offensiveagainst reaction.VIITo sum up. The boycott slogan was the product of aspecial historical period. In 1905 and the beginning of 1906,the objective state of affairs confronted the contending