New-York tribune., 1905-11-12
UNIVERSAL SOCIALISM.
NEW POLITICAL SCHEME.
Plan of Social Democrats IN Russit
:-Gorky on the Bourgeoisie.

st. Petersburg, Nov. 11.-Perhaps the most in
teresting phase of the confused situation in Rus
sia caused by the sudden loosng of all the po-
Itical forces is the attitude of the Social Demo
Gratis, who claim all the credit for the overthrow
of absolutism and who determined that they
shall not be cheated of the fruits of victory by
bogus Liberal leaders who took part in the
real contest.
Not only democratic republic, but universal
socialistic Utopia is their dream Their far
reaching programme as announced in two news
papers which hare just been launched, the No
vaia zhizn' t"New Life") and "Nashalo' ('The
Beginning. in which their aims and views are
set forth. will repay careful consideration on the
part Of foreign students of the present political
struggle in Russia. The staffs of the papers are
composed of forty of the most brilliant writer's
in Russia. including Maxim Gorky and Kieff
author of The Red Laugh
Political Missionaries those men may be, but
they have embraced the doctrine of interna-
tional socialism with their whole hearts, and
are bound to exercise great influence on Rus
sian thought in the present chaotic conditions
They openly scorn the teachings of history
claiming that the world is entering new
stage of social and political evolution. After
the complete overthrow of the present regime
in Russia they propose to erect upon the ruins
a new politico-social edifice which will form the
nucleus of the future utopian system of inter-
national democracy and the achievement Of
political equality.
The next step. will be the leveling of all
social ranks. They already speak with con-
tempt of their present allies bourgeoisie, for
whom the overthrow of absolutsm was the
final goal. Gorky says:
For the proletarfat the political revolution is
only stage the road to social revolution.
The bourgeoiS'e are content with nall meas
ures and half reforms We unite with them
for the purpose of securing guarantees or po-
litical freedom, but later we will demand guar
antees from them, and we will be entitled to
them All the former despotlc governments Oh
Europe We're OVerthrown by the people, under
the leadership of the bourgeoisie. They result
ed. however only in setting up constitutional
mona rches. which are paradises for the bour-
geoisie perhaps, but economic hells for the
workmen.
Russia is the only country owing its evolution
to an organized army of workmen. who are aoie
TO oppose the forces of the government with
weapon which has paralyzed the nations heart.
The greatest credit for the victory mus ldL
achieved belongs to the noble minded body ct
students, who years ago began to realize their
historic mission. They acted the part OF al
alarm clock for the working classes, and have
been the yeast of the proietariat ferment For
xesrs they 1InsuccessfuIly tried the
nea santrv and wandered through the villages,
but they preached TO deaf ears, and were hnaliy
driven to follow the line of least resistance, ana
turned back to the cities, and In the shops ana
factories found the men VINO accomplished the
October revolution
Corky makes a scathing characterization OF
the attitude Of the bourgeoisie, in which he
classes the Zemstvoists and other Constitution
aIists who now he says. would like to play the
part of the progenitors Of Mark Twain add
ing:
While the workmen's army marched to battle
they hung in the rear, but when the army re-
! turned after destroying the outer bulwarlzs OF
| the autocracy, they were at the head singing
| songs of triumph.
Continuing, Gorky draws a contemptuous plct-
ure OF the self-satisfied tradesmen in the cities,
with their eyes blinded by the great tragedy of
| life everlastingly content if they only live
! upon the gains stolen from labor. soothing their
| minds with the deusion that they are cult1yat-
! ing their souls with promises of religion made up
! of century old lies