The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-13
Continued from last issue)

/ IAOlbhSs III HIS BOOhg IOOu kpp.
4-5) writes as follows:
In the period between January 8,
and the strike In October, 1905, |
! formed those views of the character
Of the revolutionary development in
Russia which have received the desig-
nation of permanent revolution
Despite the interval Of twelve years,
this estimate has been fully con-
frmed." (This was written in the
year 1922! L. K)
But during the whole of these
years this theory was opposed by an
other theory, Lenin's theory, express
ed in the formula Revolutionary,
democratic dictatorship of the prole-
tariat and peasantry."
This idea, so wrote Comrade Trot-
sky in 1918, and wrote it again in
1922 without the slightest reservation,
this idea has been repeated unwear-
ingly by Lenin since 1904. But that
does not make it correct"
In this book ("1905"), Trotskv de-
scribes Lenin's fundamental idea as
an empty abstraction, and writes that
the Bolshevih ARRIVE at the idea of a
standardization
of the proletariat possessing state
power"
He continues: Whilst the anti
revolutionary features of menshevism
are already visible to their full ex-
tent, the anti-reVoIutionary features of
5olsheVism Il underline these words
on account of their Importance. L. K.)
threaten to appear as mighty danger
only in case Of a revolutionary vic
tory"
Comrade Trotsky, who caused this
phrase on the dangers of the anti-rev-
dictionary features of Bolshevism to
be republished and confirmed in the
year 1922, adds the following:
AS is already we'll known, this did
not happen, for Bolshevism, under
Comrade Lenin's leadership, changed
its theological equipment in this most
important question in the spring of
1917, that before the conquest of
power" (Trotsky, 1905" Russian
edition, p. 1851
Trotsky's idea is now clear The
standpoint held by Lenin and by the
Bolshevist Party on the character OF
the revolution, as developed between
1904 and the spring of 1917, had not
only been wrong, but even counter
revolutionary with respect to the So
cialist revolution. Lenin and the Boil
sheviki were thus obliged to change
their equipment" in the spring of 1917
before the conquest of power, for the
purpose of accomplishing the conquest
of power. That is, they found them
selves Obliged to substitute the coun.
ter-revolutionary equipment of Bolshe-
vism by the really revolutionary
equipment which TrotslSy had kept
ready on hand for twelve years. 1t is
Trotsky's conviction that, Lenin came
over to Trotsky after first building
/ up the party for fifteen years on anti
| revolutionary" ideas" sdt
Trotsky has proved to be in the
right during the whole course of his
intellectual conflicts with Bolshevism
and with Lenin up to the. year 1917
that is the import of all Trotsky s
latest books ("1905" and "1917.")
But if this is so, then we must state
it openly. If Bolshevism contains an.
Revolutionary features, if we have
to change our equipment before a de.
cisive battle, then what right have we
to teach uncOrrected Bolshevism to
our proletariat and to the proletariats
of all countries? Why do we not say
anywhere, not in one single textbook
read by the proletariat of our country
| and of the whole world: Comrades
we teach you Bolshevism, but do not
forget that BoIshevism contains anti.
revolutionary features, and as soon as
the fight begins, then you will not be
able to manage with the equipment
of Bolshevism, but will have to re-
place it by another, the equipment of
Trotskyism.
We must either teach Bolshevism,
Leninism, as it is, without correction,
as the real theory Of proletarian revo.
luton, or, if there is anyone who be.
lieves that this theory is not the true
theory of proletarian revolution, but
that it has to be supplemented by
Trotskyism in order to become such,
then he must state openly and
straightforwardly what alterations he
thinks should be made. Is there real.
ly something anti-revolutionary in the
teachings OF Bolshevism on the revo-
luton? Then the works issued by
Lenin before the spring Of 1917 must
not be made the scientific authority
/ IN proletarian struggle and proletar.
an strategy against the bourgeoisie
Dr. we must at least say: But the art
t realizing proletarian revolution is
Tot to be learned from Lenins works
Up to 1917, but from Trotsky's works
since 1905.
The October revolution was either
accomplished beneath the banner OF
uncorrected Leninism, or it was &C.
complished beneath the banner OF
Trotskyism and its correction of Len
inism. Here we are at a parting OF
the ways.
II was to be expected that Comrade
Trotsky, in order to grant certain
amount of satisfaction to the party
which he has thus benefited, should
willingly admit that he has committed
certain organizatory errors in the
past. What does such an acknowl-
edgment cost, when It serves as a
cloak for the unpublished assertion
that nOlobavfofa Tantutou.