The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-12

of the struggle against Scheidemann,
Vandervelde, and their like, it origin
atetd and grew in strength at the
same time in the struggle against the
Zimmerwald center" against Kaut-
sky and Trotsky. The practical policy
of this center was as follows: No
final rupture with the Second Interna-
tional, no founding of the Third Inter-
national, the aims striven for by Len
in as head of the Zimmerwald left.
Lenin never altered his character
ization and opinion of the line taken
by Comrade Trotsky, either at the
time when the tide of revolution was
at its highest, or at the time of it's
lowest ebb.
No feminist taking the name seri-
, ously can admit even the thought that
Comrade Lenin, in thus systematically
revealing Comrade Trotsky's stand
point for so many years in succession
was influenced by any individual mo-
tives, In his systematic and impas-
stoned fight against Trotskyism, Com
rade Lenin was solely influenced by
the fact that he saw in Trotskyism
certain cuIrent hostile to the ideol-
ogy and the organization of the Boil
shevist Party; a current which in act
ual practice served the ends of men
| shevism.
! AS Comrade Lenin would say, it is
comparatively easy to combat menshe-
vism, for its open and consistent anti
proletarian character, obviously liber-
al in essentials, is at once comprehend
ed by only slightly experienced work
ers and is thus rejected by the work
ers. 1t is more needful to combat the
concealed forms of menshevism, those
forms which clothe opportunist policy
in left revolutionary phraseology, the
form which adapts menshevism to the
| revolutionary feeling of the masses
Those who fight against us with open
visor are not our sole enemies, we
have another foe in that group which
DISCUSSES the efforts of open enemies
by means of revolutionary phrases,
and furthers the cause of the enemies
of the party by exploiting the confid-
ence felt in these phrases.
Lenin merely formulated the rela-
lions to Trotskyism, characteristic
for the whole Bolsheyist Party, altho
Comrade Trotsky succeeded at times,
in especially difficult moments in the
life of the party, in drawing some few
Bolsheviki over to him, if only for
brief period, by means of his phrases
and inferior diplomacy.
IL. comrade Trotsky Enters the
Party.
The above described relations be-
tween Bolshevism and Trotskyism
were characterized by Comrade Trot-
sky himself in the words: 81 came to
Lenin fighting" This phrase not only
evidences a desire to win appreciation,
but it is very well expressed. Com
rade Trotsky is a master of. elegant
phraseology. But the matter in ques-
ton is unfortunately much too serious
in character to be settled by a well
turned sentence.
In the first place this phrase is not
strictly accurate, and in the second
place\it is calculated to carry away
the reader by its beauty and to con-
ceal Comrade Trotsky's real thoughts.
This elegant phrase is a piece of hyp-
ocricy.
Is it then really true that the whole
history of Trotsky's attitude as we
have followed it here from 1903 till
1917, can be characterized by these
words of his: 81 came to Lenin fight
ing? Trotsky is apparently extremes
ly satisfied with the history of his re-
lations to Bolshevism; at least he
wrote in his book: 1.-THE New Course"
which appeared a few months ago:
Il do not consider that the road by
which / reached Lenin is any less
suitable or certain than other roads"
For Trotsky this is very reassuring.
But is it possible for the party, with
out deceiving itself, to regard the road
upon which Trotsky reached our party
as suitable or certain? If this road
really was a road to Lenin," then
every one time menshevik and social
revolutionist, of whom there are not
a few in our party, can make use of
Trotsky's words and declare: "In re-
atty was not menshevik or social
revolutionist, / was merely making my
way, fighting, to Bolshevism."
One thing at least is evident: the
party cannot recommend anybody to
take Trotsky's road to Bolshevism.
The comrades who have come over
to us from other parties have gener-
ally declared that they have been mis-.
taken. that they have had different
conception of the interests of the
working class and had Thought to
serve these interests in a different
manner but that they are now con-
vinced that they have been on the
wrong road The party did not de-
mand any such ayowal from Comrade
Trotsky, and was quite right in not
doing so. Comrade Trotsky stood the
test, and stood II excellently. But
this does not by any means signify
that the party can permit Comrade
Trotsky to designate his fifteen years
OF fighting against Bolshevism and
Lenin as a suitable and sure path TO
Leninism. / maintain that Trotsky
sees the road by which he approached
Lenin from an entirely opposite stand.
point to ours; that he does not be.
lieve Bolshevism TO have proved right
and Trotskyism wrong.
Trotsky came to the party with the