The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-01-29
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF RUSSIA

- n 4 4HM
In TIE following article taken from the New
Republic, Mr.. II, n. Brailsford graphically
describes the Communist Party (Bolsheviks)
of Russia To Americans, it will be hard to
conceive of such political party as he de-
scribes being accustomed to loose individualism
in political affiliations. Nevertheless, believe
it is necessary to an understanding of the Rus
sian Revolution to fully comprehend the
methods of that political faction in Russia
which had and has the courage, discipline, in
tegence and uncompromsng revolutionary
character to guide the revolutionary forces into
the channels that lead to the victory of Com
munsm over capitalism. Especially, is this
knowledge of Communist psychology necessary
and timely in view of the present development
of Communist parties in every country of the
world each united under strict discipline with
the victorious Russian Communists in the Third
International Association of WOrkingmen. Aside
from few points apparently eol0red by Mr..
Bradford bourgeois training we believe he
treats his subject very thoroughly
The Russian Communists have been compared TO
Plato's guardians to the French JacObins and to the
British bureaucracy in India. No analogy can give
the fantest conception of the widness and imprO-
bability of this adventure, by which small minor
ity mainly composed of manual workers. has brought
vast empire under an absolute dictatorship, and based
its rule securely that every recent visitor to Russia
however hostile has confessed that no conceivable
alternative exists The world has known arisocracies
of race of wealth. of BIRTH of talent Any one Of the
rival parties in Russia could show superiority
the Communists in all these particulars. But the Com
munss surpass their rivals in two respects firstly in
discipline and secondly in their miraculous courage
their heroic rashness their fanatica unwavering faith
which seems alternately stupid and sublime
The Conspirators of Yesterday
The history of this party under Tsardom goes far 20
explain its present mentality. Its very existence was
conspiracy 1t learned secrecy, suspicion and dscip
line the first conditions of success, nay of survival
in its perpetual struggle with the police 1t had to meet
espionage with espionage 1t acquired the habit
of unquestonng obedience to orders because the safety
and even the lives of all the comrades might depend
the punctuay and precision of each. No one ques-
toned criticized before acting for prudence required
that only the chiefs should know the plan ITSELF or
the for its adoption Again and again. in close
contact with the men who running the bureaucratic
machine of Russia today, was puzzled by some tra:t
Of character until | recollected that those who are
rulers today were hunted cOnsprators yesterday 1t is
this severe training, which taught them to despse
pleasure to dread drink. to keep secret to obey
ders and to live with every and thought alert
which gives them their incontestabe superiority over
the idle, pleasurelOvng, undisciplned upper class
which forms the White armies.
Everyone knows that the Russian Communist party
contains only about 100000 men and women. Few
realize however, that it is now more than ever, more
careful 10 keep itself select than increase its NUM-
bers Il is in this respect like religious order
than any political party which we know in the west
You may enter it only if several members guarantee
your reliability from intimate personal knowledge.
Even then you are received not member, but only
as ''canddate" The novice must submit to regular
courses of instruction in the doctrines of the party He
is not received until he passes examination in the
creed heard of a recent in which eight ont Of
twelve candidates were funked for lack of this heor
ptc knowledge and sent back to take their schooling
over again Far more severe is the scrutiny of
iiiates conduct Does he absent himself from party
meetings is he negligent in his public work. is he slow
10 obey orders? lie will not be received Nor does the
scrutiny cease after his admission. Any ackness, any
want of zeal any indsciplne any conduct inconsistent
with socialist ethics will entail his expulsion To drink
,r play cards would be fatal even dancing is frowned
lpou and there is a tendency to check smoking. The
,upardonaole sin is any pursuit of gain AT intervals
regular purge, known as 'revison" is carried out
II the party, and unworthy members expelled. 1t
S on record that the doors of the party
,rown wide open for a week. 1t was in the black
ntumn of 1919, when Yudenich had all but taken
octrOgrad when Denikin had advanced to Orcl within
striking distance Of Moscow, and Poles and Finus
night at any moment set on. Any one who joined in
I at dark hour must, it was thought, be sincere.
sutry it must be added is always easier for manual
workers than for "intelectuals,n and these latter
orm an infinitesma fraction Of the party, though
most Of the older leaders belong to this suspect class
Why discipline and selectness are necessary.
The reasons for keeping the party select are as
tent as they ever were. The Revolution is still fight
ns for its life. When army wavers, Communist
olunteer battalons thrown into the breach When
regiment lacks steadiness, percentage Of Commun
sts is introduced into its ranks. When factory works
H. few Communist workmen are INTRODUCED into its
taft. When village is disaffeeted two Com.
nunSts are sent to live in It, They are the active,
er,ous. conscious element in the sluggish Russian
ody, They are the elite Of the Revolution aud every
nan aud among them is expected to have will {