GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

684 *THICS AND POLITIC!: THE MODERNS
possession ofthese instruments will enable the capitalist class
to ensure that a Parliament dominated by a constitutional
Labour Party will only pass such legislation as will leave
industrial power untouched. If such a party were to
introduce measures expropriating the capitalists and trans-
ferring their property to the community, the latter would,
in the last resort, fight in defence of their privileges.
It is
held that the growth of the power of the Labour Party
in Great Britain, coupled with its comparative failure to
substantial modification in the structure of
make any
Capitalism, fully bean out this view.
It is argued, accordingly, that constitutional means
must be abandoned, the machinery of the existing State
superseded, and a revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat
proclaimed. Modern communists have never
hesitated tq> emphasize the severity and bitterness of
the struggle which will accompany the overthrow of the
capitalist class. Armed violence will be necessary on
the part ofthe workers, not only to .dispossess the capitalists,
but to resist counter-revolutions designed to restore them.
As Engels says, "The party which has triumphed in the
revolution is necessarily compelled to maintain its rule
by means of that fear with which its arms inspire the
reactionaries. If the Commune of Paris had not based
itself on the authority of the armed people against the
bourgeoisie, would it have maintained itself more than
twenty-four hours?"
In this connection it is pointed out that the bourgeoisie
has all the advantages of superior education, discipline,
ami military talent* It has fighting materials at its disposal
and money for its equipment* It is not to be expected,
therefore, that, even if dispossessed by a sudden revolution-
ary coup, it will refrain from using these advantages.
9 *
"In any and every serious revolution, says Lenin, "a
long, obstinate, desperate resistance of the exploiters, who
for many yean will yet enjoy great advantages over the
exploited, constitutes the rule. Never . . . will the
exploiters submit to the decision of die exploited majority