The Bismarck tribune., 1919-01-08
THE BOLSHEVIK PROGRAM


Like the German propaganda, the pro-Bolshe-
yik agitation makes very grave blunders-even
from it's own standpoint. The pro-Bolshevlsts,
for example, are making claims on behalf OF the
Bolshevik, which the latter themselves deny!
In America, the Russian Bolshevists are repre-
sented as being democrats; in Russia, Lenlne ana
his followers lose no occasion to repudlate democ-
racv. both in word and in deed. Our quotations
will show that the very basis of Bolshevlsm con-
sists in the reputation of democracy!
In America, the Bolsheviki are represented as
having given land to landless peasantry; in Rus
sia, the &Boshevki attribute nearly all of their
troubles:ato the fact that there has been very
little land (not in peasant hands before the reVo-
lution to give-a fact which will also be demon
strated later by quotations from the BolsheVlkl
themselves. szs ~
In America, the fBolsheviki are represented as
being pacifists; Lenine and Trotzky have neglect
ed no opportunity to denounce bourgeois pacitism
and to assert that they are in favor of holy war
against any and all non-Bolsheviki governments,
wherever such war has chance of success
In America, the Bolshevik are represented as
favoring individual liberty; in Russia, the Boshe-
Wiki absolutely repudate such regard for personal
d
tice" IL .,.,.
In America, Lenine is represented as being
hundred per cent socialist; in Russia, Lenine pre-
sentsf himself as being one hundred per cent anti
socialist, that lis, a Communist" opposed to the
socialist international. 3
In May 1917, the first or Bolshevikis srevo-
luton was already sufficiently developed to en-
able Lenine to define the application OF his doc
trine to the political situation in which Rus
sia found itself. From the "New International
(April, 1879, an American Bolsheviki publication,
we quote the following paragraph Of long arti-
Gle by Lenine: ,-,. "-
! The word democracy cannot be scientifically
applied to the communist party. Since March,
1917, the word democracy is simply shacke
fastened upon the revolutionary nation and
preventing it from establishing boldly, freely
and regardless of all obstacles, a new form of
power; the council of workmen's, soldiers and
peasants deputies, harbnger Of the abolition
of every form Of authority.
Shortly after the Bolsheviki came into power,
Lenine defined the new dictatorship" Of the pro-
letariat as follows
Just as 10000 lordly landowners under
Tsarism dominated the 130,O00,00O of Russian
peasants, so 100000 members Of the Bolshe-
Wiki party are imposing their proletarian will
on the mass, but this time in the interest Of
the latter.
In order to understand thoroughly the extent
and precise grounds of Lenines reputation OF
democracy, let us quote his denunciation Of the
rival faction of the social democratic or working
mems party, namely, the Mensheviki:
In its class composition this party is not
socialist at all. 1t does not represent the toll
ing masses. 1t represents fairly prosperous
peasants and workingmen, petty traders,
many small and some even fairly large capi-
talists and certain number of real but guilt
q BILE proletarians who have been caught in the '
bourgeois net.
We are progressing into the Lenine psychology
Even "a fairly prosperous" workngman is not
''proletarian." .. .....f
In political catechism prepared in the summer
of 1917 Lenine asks the question, Is it necessary
to convoke the constituent assembly and answers
Eyes and as soon as possible" This demonstrates
that the Bolshevki did not dare to oppose the idea
Of democratic constituent assembly and did not
intend to oppose it if they could gain control of
il. It was only because they found the overwhenl-
ing majority of the peasants and large part of
the working people against them that they dis
persed the constituent assembly and established
the Soviet" doctrine What this doctrine is we
may see from an examination Of the soviet CON
stitution adopted at the fifth pan-Russian con-
ress Of soviets.
!. In the preamble, the soviets state that they
propose ito put an end to every i'll that oppresses
humanity" The soviets necessarily proceed to
. very extreme policy to carry such program in
% eject declaring for "a dictatorship of the pro-
sjetoriat and the poorest peasantry."