The New York herald., 1920-11-21
Deplores Influence of Others
on the Russian Bourgeoisie


Russian bourgeoisie, politically impotent,
dared not to be reconciled to their political
and economic appropriation only because
they saw their elder sister still ruling in all
countries, still retaining economic, political
and even, to some extent. military power.
If our revolution had taken place a few
months or even a few weeks, after the
Inauguration of proletarian rule In Germany.
France and Great Britain, there is not the
slightest doubt whatever but that our revo-
luton would have been the most peaceful
and the most "bloodless" of all revolutions
possible in this wicked world.
This sequence in time, which at first glance
seems the most natural" and which In any
case would have been the most advantageous
to the Russian working class, was not real
lied. not through any fault Of ours, but
because of the march of events.
Instead of being the last the Russian pro-
letarat turned out to be the first. 1t was
just this fact that gave-after the first period
of confusion--its desperate character to the
resistance of the former governing classes
of Russia and forced the Russian proletariat
in time of the greatest danger OF external
attack and internal plots and risings to re-
sort to the cruel measure OF state terrorism.
No one is likely to say now that this measure
proved inefficacious. But perhaps some peo-
pie will demand that it be considered in
admissible
Uphofds Resort to Any Means
for Retaining Their Power.
The working class, having fought their
way to power, were faced by the problem
and the duty of consolidating and securing
that power invincibly, of beating the will
to counter revolution out of their enemies
and so of securing for themselves the pos
sblity OF carrying out Socialist reforms.
Otherwise there would have been no point
In their selling power.
revolution does not logically" demand
terrorism. just as It does not logically" de-
mand armed risings. What a pompous
banalite! But revolution does demand OF
the revolutionary class that they achieve
their purpose by any means at their dis
posal: If necessary. by an armed rising; II
necessary by terrorism.
The revolutionary class. which with arms
in their hands gained power, are obliged TO
and will crush with arms all attempts to
wrest power from their grasp. Where they
have against them a hostile army they will
set against il their own army Where they
have against them armed plot an assas-
sination, rising they will let loose stern
punishment on the heads of their enemies.
The question of the form or degree OF
repression is of course not question OF
principle and utility. but of feasibility. In
time of revolution the party that has been
ousted from power. that cannot reconcile
itself to the permanence of the party in
power. and that displays this state Of mind
by it's bitter struggle against the latter. can
not be frightened by the threat Of imprison-
ment because II does not believe that this
Imprisonment will be long. IL Is just this
simple but decisive fact that explains the
general use of shooting in civil war.
Terror is impotent--and then only "in the
long run"--ony when applied by reaction
against historically rising class. But ter
ror may be extremely effective against a
reactionary class that does not want to quit
the scene of action. Fear is a mighty in
strument Of both foreign and domestic policy.
War. like revolution. is based on frightening
people.
victorious war as rule destroys only
an insignificant part of the beaten army, but
frightens the rest and breaks their Will
revolution acts In just the same way: killing
one. II frightens a thousand. In this sense
the Red Terror Is not in principle different
from an armed rising OF which it is the
direct continuation. He only can morally"
condemn state terrorism by n revolutionary
class who on principle denies lin words)
every kind OF force-that is every war ana
every rising. To do this one must be wholly
and plainly a hypocritical Quaker
"But how then are your tactics different
from the tactics of Czarism?' cry the priests
of Liberalism and Kautskyanism.
You don't understand how. holy ones
We will explain IL 20 you The terror of
Tsarsm was directed against the proletariat.
The Tsars gendarmerie strangled the work
ers who were struggling for Socialist order
OF things. Our extraordinary commissions
shoot land owners, capitalists, generals who
are trying TO restore the capitalist order of
things. You grasp the nudnceP Yes? For
us Communists 1t is quite enough.
Our truth" Of course is not absolute. But
as we arc Just now pouring out our blood
for IL. we have neither the means nor the