The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-03

difference with Lenin on this ques-
ton back in the period of the revo-
luton Of 1905.
On this and other grounds, Trotsky
has fought against the theories of
Lenin and the leadership of Lenin
since 1908, when the Bolshevik wing
Of the Social-Democratic party was
formed. In 1917, he accepted Lenins
program as to the seizure of power
by the working class, aided by the
peasantry, but even then, as we shall
see from Trotsky's own words, he
did not agree with Lenin as to the
role of the peasantry and expected
that alliance would break off imme-
diately after the victory over
Kerensky.
TrOtsky's Theory of the Nature of
the Revolution.
AFTER the failure of the revolution
IA Of 1905, Trotsky published book
concerning his theories with the title
1905" In this he expressed some
of his differences with Lenin on this
question. In 1922, five years after
the revolution of November, 1917, he
repubhshcd the same book with a
new introduction, maintaining sub
stantially the same views.
We will let Trotsky speak for him
self:
ut was .Ust in the period be-
tween the 22nd of January and the
October strike (this refers to events
in the year 1905-B. D. W. that
the views of the present writer
| (Trotskyt were formed on the char
acter Of the revolutionary develop
ment of Russia The idea
that the Russian revolution, con-
fronted by immediate bourgeois
aims, cannot be content after gain
ing these. The revolution cannot
solve its first bourgeois task by
any other means than by the seiz-
ure of power by the proletariat.
But after it has seized power,
the proletariat cannot confine itself
to the bourgeois framework of the
revolution. On the contrary, the
firm establishment of victory re-
quires that the proletarian van
guard at once inaugurate it's rule
by energetic attacks, not only upon
feudal property, but upon bourgeois
property as well. THUS far Trot-
sky agrees with Lenin's theory
! B. d. w.
Thinks Workers Must
Fight Peasants.
This means for the proletariat
hostile encounters with every group
! OF the bourgeoisie which has sup
ported the proletariat at the begin
ming of the revolutionary struggle,
not only with these but with the
broad masses of the peasantry as
well, whose support has enabled
them to attain power"
Considers Alliance Temporary.
From this quotation we see that
even after Trotsky came to accept
Lenin's theory that the peasantry
must be won to help the working
class in its struggle for power, he
considered this alliance to be only
temporary, and believed that the
working class, once in power, would
take such measures against the in
terests of the peasantry as would
break the alliance and arouse the
peasantry to attack the workers rule.
| This was Trotsky's mature belief
in 1922, after the experience of 1905
and 1917. And we shall see further,
that this is still his belief and the Of
fetal theory underlying all the pro-
posals of the opposition bloc. That
is what makes the proposals of the
Opposition so dangerous to the safety
of the Russian revolution.
Lenin Showed Trotsky's Error.
How different is the revolutionary
theory Of Lenin Lenin maintained
that the conquest of power and the
control of the state apparatus by the
working class would make it possible
for the workers government to sat
isfy the needs Of the peasantry and
win permanent support from them
for the defending Of the proletarian
state and the building up of socialism.
In fact the alliance which Trotsky
would break Immediately after the
conquest of power, Lenin believed
would not really become strong I'M
til the workers were in power and
abe to show their ability to defend
the interests of the peasant masses
as well as their own interests.
Thus Lenin said:
"In order to win the majority of
the population to it's side, the pro-
letariat must first overthrow the
! bourgeoisie and get the state power
into its own hands. Second, it must
introduce the Soviet power
whereby it roots out Immediately the
leadership and authority and the in
fluence of the bourgeoisie and the
petty-bourgeois compromisers among
the non-proletarian toiling masses
particularly the peasant1y---D.D.W.).
Third. it must destroy once and for
all the influence of the bourgeoisie
and the petty-bourgeois compromis-
ers among the majority of the toiling
masses thrcugh the revolutionary