V. I. L E N I N
88
FROM MARX
TO MAO
NOT
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COMMERCIAL
DISTRIBUTION
protest means sinking to the level of a Cadet. On the con-
trary, Mr. Yezhov, the demand for “a few kopeks” deserves
full recognition and not a sneer! On the contrary, Mr.
Yezhov, that demand, far from “obscuring” “the principle
involved in the protest”, emphasises it! Firstly, the question
of a higher standard of living is also a question of principle,
and a most important one; secondly, whoever protests, not
against one, but against two, three, etc., manifestations of
oppression, does not thereby weaken his protest but strength-
ens it.
Every worker will indignantly reject Mr. Yezhov’s outra-
geous liberal distortion of the matter.
In the case of Mr. Yezhov, it is by no means a slip of the
pen. He goes on to say even more outrageous things:
“Their own experience should have suggested to the workers
that it was inadvisable to complicate their protest by economic de-
mands, just as it is inadvisable to complicate an ordinary strike by
a demand involving a principle.”
This is untrue, a thousand times untrue! The Nevsky
Golos has disgraced itself by printing such stuff. What Mr.
Yezhov thinks inadvisable is perfectly advisable. Both
each worker’s own experience and the experience of a very
large number of Russian workers in the recent past testify
to the reverse of what Mr. Yezhov preaches.
Only liberals can object to “complicating” even the
most “ordinary” strike by “demands involving principles”.
That is the first point. Secondly, our liquidator is sorely
mistaken in measuring the present movement with the yard-
stick of an “ordinary” strike.
And Mr. Yezhov is wasting his time in trying to cover up
his liberal contraband with someone else’s flag, in confus-
ing the question of combining the economic and the politi-
cal strike with the question of preparations for the one
or the other! Of course, it is most desirable to make prepara-
tions and to be prepared, and to do this as thoroughly,
concertedly, unitedly, intelligently and firmly as possible.
That is beyond dispute. But, contrary to what Mr. Yezhov
says, it is necessary to make preparations precisely for a
combination of the two kinds of strike.
“A period of economic strikes is ahead of us,” writes Mr. Yezhov.
“It would be an irreparable mistake to allow them to become inter-
89
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STRIKES
twined with political actions of the workers. Such combination would
have a harmful effect on both the economic and the political struggle
of the workers.”
One could hardly go to greater lengths! These words show
in the clearest possible way that the liquidator has sunk to
the level of an ordinary liberal. Every sentence contains an
error! We must convert every sentence into its direct
opposite to get at the truth!
It is not true that a period of economic strikes is ahead of
us. Quite the reverse. What we have ahead of us is a period
of something more than just economic strikes. We are facing
a period of political strikes. The facts, Mr. Yezhov, are
stronger than your liberal distortions; and if you could look
at the statistical cards dealing with strikes, which are filed in
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, you would see
that even these government statistics fully refute you.
It is not true that “intertwining” would be a mistake.
Quite the reverse. It would be an irreparable mistake if
the workers failed to understand the great singularity, the
great significance, the great necessity, and the great funda-
mental importance of precisely such “intertwining”. Fortu-
nately, however, the workers understand this perfectly, and
they brush aside with contempt the preaching of liberal
labour politicians.
Lastly, it is not true that such intertwining “would have
a harmful effect” on both forms. Quite the reverse. It bene-
fits both. It strengthens both.
Mr. Yezhov lectures some “hotheads” whom he seems to
have discovered. Listen to this:
“It is necessary to give organisational form to the senti-
ments of the workers.... ” This is gospel truth! “It is neces-
sary to increase propaganda for trade unions, to recruit
new members for them....”
Quite true, but—but, Mr. Yezhov, it is impermissible
to reduce “organisational form” to the trade unions alone.
Remember this, Mr. Liquidator!
“This is all the more necessary since there are many hotheads
among the workers nowadays who are carried away by the mass
movement and speak at meetings against unions, alleging them to
be useless and unnecessary.”