The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-08-27
: EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE TOlLERI /


IGlAlEl|N!lA]ISllE!DNlIElalEllA EllAlg
man power should be recognized as
the rear or the reserves of imperial
ism. To win war it is necessary not
only to be victorious at the front, but
to revoiutionize the rear of the enemy,
his reserves. Therefore the victory of
the World Proletarian Revolution will
be secure only after the proletariat /
will skillfully combine his own revo-
lutionary struggle with the iberating
movement Of all the nations and colo
nies against the power of Imperialism
and for the Dictatorship of the Pro-
letariat. Precisely this detail" was
overlooked by the leaders of the Sec
ond and Second and Half Interna-
tional in their detaching the national
and colonial questions from the ques-
tion of power in the epoch of the i'm
pending Proletarian Revolution in the
West.
Necessity of Aid.
The Fourth Point is the introduction
into the national question of a new
element, j. e. the element of actual
(not merely juridicaD equalization of
nationalities (assisting the backward
nation to rise to the cultural and
economic level of the advanced ma
tionalities) as one of the prerequisite
conditions for the achievement Of
fraternal cooperation between the
toiling masses of the differens ma
tionalities. In the epoch of the Second
International the demand was raised
! for the removal of national disabili-
! ties. But national equalization, how
ever, is liable to remain an empty
sound, if insufficient resources and
possibilities are afforded for the util-
ization Of this supremely important
right. Doubtless the toiling masses of
the backward nations are less able to
make use Of the rights of national
equality" than the toiling masses of
the more advanced nations: the age
long national inequality Cultural and
econoinic) which cannot be obliterated
in one or two years leaves it's sharp
imprint. Such condition prevails
mos. particularly in Russia where
some nationalities, not yet having
entered even the primary stage of
capitalism, are almost without any
proletariat and, although formally en-
joying all the rights of equality, have
no practical possibility of achieving
them, owing to their cultural and
economic backwardness. Still more
acutely will this inequality be felt on
the morrow Of the victory of the
| proletariat in the West. Then there
will emerge upon the arena numerous
colonies and semi-colonies which are
| passing through the most widely diff
Iferent stages of development. There
(! fore it is imperative that the triumph
i ant proletariat of the advanced ma
tions shall come to the aid of the toll
ing masses of the backward nations
| and help them raise themselves to a
higher level of development and
\ achieve real cultural and economic
equality. Without this active and will
ling support it will be almost impos-
sible to bring about the peaceful co.
habitation and fraternal cooperation
OF the toiling masses of the different
4 nationalities in one unified world
economic system, which are indispen-
sible for the final triumph of Com.
munism.
\ Hence follows that we cannot limit
ourselves to national equality" but
we must proceed from national equa.
lity" to such measures of practical ma.
tional equalization as will guarantee
the actual realization of this princi.
pie. These measures are:
/ y A study Of the economic status
the mode of living and culture Of the
backward nations and peoples;
i p The development of their calture,
\ - Their political enlightment;
i ~ Their gradual and normal intro.
duction to higher forms of economic
organization;
i 81 The arrangement Of economic
co ops'.t.on between the workers Of
the backward and advanced nationai.
ties.
Such are the fundamental point:
which characterize the method adopt.
ed by the Communists in solving the
national problems.